Understanding China’s counter-terrorism laws

More effective cross-border cooperation between Australia and China on the prevention and policing of terrorism in the Asia-Pacific is the focus of a TC Beirne School of Law research project.

Lecturer Dr Enshen Li said the research could inform a new model of counter-terrorism that reflects China’s current social and legal conditions.

“The model is based on China’s rule of law with Chinese characteristics and could replace the existing model of practice,” he said.

“This research will provide an insight into China’s counter-terrorism framework from a socio-legal perspective.

“It will also inform public and scholarly debates about policy, law and punishment reform relating to terrorism in China, as well as its implications for regional and global counter-terrorism initiatives.”

To gain a deep knowledge of China’s counter-terrorism laws and practices, Dr Li has explored policy and legal reforms adopted by the Chinese Government in response to terrorism since the 1980s.

“I am looking at the social and cultural changes that informed the legislative developments and shaped the practical implementation of counter-terrorism laws in China’s recent decades,” he said.

“This could also help inform the reform processes of counter-terrorism laws to advance the procedural justice in the handling of terrorism-related cases.”

Dr Li recently presented his research at the American Society of Criminology Annual Conference in the US.

The research has been funded by a UQ Early Career Research Grant.

Media: Caroline Enright, TC Beirne School of Law Communications, media@law.uq.edu.au or +61 7 3365 5296.