China: A new report has stated that China’s justice system has faced scrutiny due to its lack of transparency, the increasing number of prosecutions, and protests against court rulings. According to data released by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) in March 2023, Chinese courts prosecuted 8.3 million individuals between 2017 and 2022, marking a 12 percent increase compared to the previous period. Additionally, there was an almost 20% rise in protests against court rulings during the same timeframe.
Mr. Zhang Jun, the outgoing director of the SPP, highlighted that prosecutions for violent crimes decreased by 31.7 percent, while internet-based crimes like gambling, fraud, and the dissemination of obscene materials saw a significant increase of 43.3 percent.
The report did not mention the 1,400 national security prosecutions that took place between 2018 and 2022, indicating a selective focus in the official work report. President Mr. Xi Jinping’s administration has intensified its efforts to combat alleged crimes related to national and public security, including targeting dissidents, protesters, and human rights lawyers.
While the SPP claims to ensure lawful and fair investigations and prosecutions, it reported a rise in rejected arrests proposed by public security organs, reaching 818,000 arrests, a 30 percent increase.
The data also revealed a substantial surge in the number of appeals lodged against criminal judgements, specifically by prosecutors against convictions or sentences. Around 41,000 protests were filed against criminal judgements believed to be erroneous, marking an 18.9 percent increase compared to the previous reporting period.
Furthermore, the SPP disclosed that 78,000 officials, including more than 100 at or above the provincial leader or ministerial level, were prosecuted for corruption and bribery during the five-year period. President Xi has implemented an extensive anti-corruption campaign, targeting political elites in China.
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