Governing the Country according to the Law: Chinas Rule of Law Policy as Political Reform

Abstract

This article analyzes Chinas rule of law policy—that is, governing the country according to the law (yifa zhiguo)—in terms of political reform. It addresses two issues: one is the formation and actual implementation of the rule of law policy. The other is the nature and implementation of the rule of law policy. To this end, the article investigates specific policies of the rule of law. It then looks into the processes of the rule of law policys emergence and development at both the central and local levels. Finally it closely examines the implementation of the rule of law policy. The article argues that the rule of law policy is not just legal or judicial reform but comprehensive political reform which aims at transforming the way that the Chinese Communist Party rules the country. Moreover, it has developed for about 17 years through the processes of mutual influence between the central and local levels.