On February 8, former USALI fellows Margaret Lewis and Wang Xiumei participated in a panel discussion on China Radio International to discuss the state of extradition agreements between the United States and China.

Going to the Chinese mainland can be dangerous. First-time visitors are often surprised at their freedom, and seasoned travelers may feel comfortable, but foreigners in China do get detained by police for many reasons. When commercial dealings sour. business people of Chinese descent, including those from Taiwan and Hong Kong, are especially at risk.

What role, if any, should ordinary citizens play in determining guilt and punishment in criminal cases? Some Chinese courts, dissatisfied with the mixed tribunals of one judge and two lay assessors that hear many of their cases, have been experimenting with so-called “people’s juries” whom they “consult” before making decisions. Taiwan’s Judicial Branch recently announced that it will soon seek legislative approval for pilot projects for its own, as yet undetailed, version of a consultative, not decision-making, jury.

On July 1, the Chinese Communist Party’s ninetieth birthday, many will celebrate its extraordinary economic achievements, and the political and military power they sustain. Even human rights critics acknowledge China’s impressive progress in health, housing and education. Greater openness at home and expanding global exchange are also helping to transform an increasingly urban people into a more sophisticated society. China has indeed “stood up”.

How the government of one-fifth of humanity punishes its own people continues to attract worldwide attention. Daily foreign media reports damage the efforts of the Chinese government to cultivate international respect. Many reports concern human rights activists victimized by China’s blatantly unfair criminal justice system, such as the world famous Ai Weiwei. Others emphasize the faceless thousands executed every year for non-political offenses.