China’s Foreign-Related Rule of Law

Providing a conceptual history of foreign-related rule of law in China, this book traces its development from an academic concept focused primarily on foreign trade and investment to its present form as a comprehensive national development strategy.

The book begins with China’s historical efforts to create ‘foreign-related’ laws that facilitated foreign investment and promoted trade, before examining how they have over time become a strategic part of China’s governance model. This re-orientation is seen through the gradual change of China’s practice in international cooperation and choice of international partnerships. Wang and Chen identify how laws, measures and mechanisms are used for defensive and offensive purposes. They further analyse China's efforts to establish ‘a human community of shared destiny’ and the various Global Initiatives therein as efforts to reform and re-shape international governance. In doing so, they highlight that foreign-related rule of law concerns not only legal matters that have foreign connections, but also act as a response to foreign requirements, demands, sanctions, or demands by China for reforms in the international order.

Analysing the context, contents and implications of China’s new national strategy, this book will interest scholars of political science, international relations, and the rule of law in China.