The List: The 10 Worst Chinese Laws

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China may yet succeed in building a kinder, gentler autocracy, but its recent legal reforms fall far short of democratic ideals.

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Article 105 of the Criminal Law

What it says: Criminalizes “organizing, scheming or acting to subvert the political power of the state and overthrow the socialist system” and “incitement to subvert the political power of the state and overthrow the socialist system by spreading rumors, slander or other means.”

What it does: Although China’s constitution ostensibly guarantees the right to free speech and expression, statutes such as this one allow the state to suppress all criticism. Subversion charges are a common fate for China’s activist bloggers and journalists.

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Hukou (Household Registration) System

What it says: Citizens are classified according to place of residence and socioeconomic status. Parents pass down their classification to their children, making hukou a form of social identity. Rural migrants are not allowed to relocate to cities unless they meet certain requirements, including a “stable job or source of income” and a “stable place of residence.”

What it does: The hukou system, excoriated by critics as “China’s apartheid,” traces its origins to the fifth century, B.C. Reforms have lifted restrictions in recent years and enforcement has slackened off, but some provinces still have hukou on the books. Migrants who don’t meet requirements have trouble obtaining public services such as healthcare or education for their children. Some officials defend the system, warning that too-rapid changes will lead to soaring crime and social chaos. But earlier this year, a government-sponsored report suggested that hukou be scrapped altogether to grant farmers the same status as urbanites.

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Measures for Managing Internet Information Systems, Issued by State Council Order No. 292

What it says: Prohibits certain content from Web sites, online bulletin boards, and chat rooms, including content that could “harm the dignity and interests of the state” or “disturb social order.” It also holds Internet service providers (ISPs) responsible for the content of their sites.

What it does: Vague provisions such as banning Web sites that “disturb social order” are a blank check for Internet censorship. China employs some 30,000 Internet police to keep tabs on its more than 250 million Web users, and holding ISPs responsible for content often leads to widespread self-censorship and the recording of subscribers’ online and telephone activity.

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Law on the Supervision by Standing Committees of the People’s Congress at All Levels (2006), Article 3

What it says: It lays out the requirement of “upholding leadership of the Communist Party.”

What it does: Along with the constitution itself, this law enables one-party rule by mandating Communist Party dominance in Congress. Technically speaking, China has eight registered minor parties. But thanks to laws such as this, they have little to no influence on government.

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New Property Rights Law, 2007

What it says: A first, this law granted the right to property ownership by private persons.

What it does: Although one can own buildings and fixtures on land, the land itself still belongs to the state. The Chinese government also has a right to seize private property for “a public purpose,” a vague standard that is often exploited by commercial interests. The state must “provide compensation” for such seizures, but it usually offers a menial amount. Some analysts think that giving peasants in particular the right to sell their land would have tamped down rural unrest and helped millions find work and overcome poverty, but such a dramatic step was apparently too much for the Communist Party.

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Regulations on Religious Affairs (2005)

What it says: Allows religious organizations to possess property, publish literature, train and approve clergy, and collect donations, but requires them to register with the state. Article 3 sets forth that religion can’t be used to “disrupt public order” or “harm State or public interests.”

What it does: Requiring groups to register with the state grants the government the right of refusal over religious organizations. The language in Article 3 is intentionally vague and is often used against groups the government doesn’t approve, such as the Falun Gong. The government officially recognizes just five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism.

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Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China

What it says: “The All-China Federation of Trade Unions shall be established as the unified national organization.”

What it does: Limits workers to party-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), which rights groups say doesn’t adequately protect workers’ rights. A new labor law passed in 2007 strengthened the role that the ACFTU could play in negotiating wages and benefits, but the union has traditionally favored management over workers and has not played an active role in defending such worker rights as overtime compensation and the ability to strike.

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State Security Law, Article 4

What it says: Lists specific acts that endanger state security, but are still vague enough to encourage arbitrary enforcement.

What it does: Activists and journalists are often prosecuted for Clause 1— “plotting to subvert the government, dismember the State or overthrow the socialist system,” or Clause 3—“stealing, secretly gathering, buying, or unlawfully providing State secrets.” According to human rights researcher John Kamm, 99 percent of people tried for endangering state security are convicted.

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Consumer Protection Law, Chapter II, Articles 7 and 8

What it says: Companies are expected to maintain safety standards currently established by other companies, and businesses can’t be punished for falling behind raised standards established by goods entering the market at a later time.

What it does: Safety standards and laws fluctuate with shifts in the market. Thus, there are no objective mandates for consumer product safety. After last summer’s string of product recalls, the U.S. and Chinese product safety agencies met to discuss new measures, including banning the use of lead paint in toys exported to the United States. Still, there is little hope for progress unless Chinese local authorities stop haphazardly enforcing rules and regulations.