THE RULE OF LAW AND EXPERIENCE OF THE KOREAN JUDICIARY

As a social norm, law in a democratic society should be established in the form of positive law by collecting opinions of people. In order for the rule of law to be properly practiced in a democratic country, the doctrine of separation of powers requires that the legislative, executive, and judicial functions should not be consolidated in a single body. However, even within a perfectly established legislative system, the principle of the rule of law may be distorted depending on the role of the judiciary. The experience of the Korean judiciary shows that even though it is designed to be a completely independent organ of the lawmaking National Assembly and the law-enforcing executive branch; it would fail to properly give effect to the country’s governing principle of the rule of law. It may be thought that the fundamental reasons lie in the endemic tendency towards the rule of man in East Asian societies. Nowadays, those who received education in a democratic society without experiencing the authoritarianism have begun to make inroads into the leadership of the judicial branch. They can be firmly determined to prevent freedom and rights of every single person from being infringed upon. In this way, they can be confident that the judiciary has fulfilled its roles in shaping a democratic country where the rule of law is exercised properly as a governing principle.     

THE CHINESE MODEL OF THE RULE OF LAW

China’s project of the rule of law is destined to have its Chinese characteristics. China also needs to think about of the way of developing its own model of the rule of law so as to achieve a rule of law society that is universal in modern society. Many rule of law countries, such as England, Germany and France, started their rule of law project with their own model. China should learn from the merits of these different models. Nevertheless, China should also try to solve the key problem of the rule of law, which is the energizing of the enforcement of the Chinese Constitution.     

40 YEARS OF THE RULE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: ENHANCEMENTS,EXPERIENCE, AND EXPECTATIONS

Based on major landmark events and the rule of law development, the administrative rule-of-law construction in China, over 40 years since the initiation of the reform and opening up policy, can be divided into four stages: the “recovery” stage; the “rapid development by focusing on administrative legislation” stage; the “implementing the basic policy of law-based governance of the country and focusing on law-based administration of government” stage; and the “simultaneous advancement and integrated construction in building the rule of law in China” stage. Over the past 40 years, China’s administrative rule-of-law construction has achieved fruitful results in terms of theoretical shaping, system construction, and concept popularization. The future construction of the administrative rule of law should promptly respond to the theoretical needs put forward by state governance, administrative changes, emerging science, and technology development, and it should continue to improve the theoretical system of administrative law with Chinese characteristics; we should strengthen legislation in key areas, solve practical problems in the construction of a government under the rule of law, and promote the effect of law enforcement and system implementation. We should also focus on improving the awareness and qualities of the rule of law at all levels of leading cadres and form a good rule of law atmosphere in the entire society.     

TRAGIC CONSCIOUSNESS,NATURAL LANGUAGE AND MODERN SPIRIT OF THE RULE OF LAW

Tragic consciousness, which originated in childhood, is complex compassion based on strong self-consciousness. After being moralized, tragic consciousness presents the dichotomy of good and evil, which has not only profoundly affected the formation of natural language, but also cradled the theory of natural law and religious spirit. Modern jurisprudence attempts to get rid of the shackles of classics and Christian humanism, to shape the autonomous and self-consistent image of law with the de lege lata as center. However, it is difficult for modern jurisprudence to surpass the natural language which rooted in tragic consciousness, and impossible to neglect or deny the independent value of the human. The inherent conflict within the rule of law makes ironically a tragedy, especially in the context of contemporary China.     

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CHINESE LAW OF CONSTRUCTIVE DELIVERY FROM AN ENGLISH COMMON LAW PERSPECTIVE

All three forms of constructive delivery, namely, traditio brevi manu, traditio longa manu, and constitutum possessorium exist in both Chinese law and English law with notable differences in each form. As regards traditio brevi manu, the current unique requirement of the transferee’s prior possession being “legal” under Chinese law cannot be found in or deduced from its English counterpart. As regards traditio longa manu, the major difference between the two jurisdictions is that the third-party possessor’s attornment is necessary condition for a valid traditio longa manu in English law whereas it is not in Chinese law. As regards constitutum possessorium, while English law accepts a wider scope of scenarios than Chinese law, passing of property in English law by way of constitutum possessorium is only effective between the parties themselves but not viz a viz third parties whereas it is effective in both respects in Chinese law. Compared to a mess in English law regarding the issue of symbolic delivery, the simple, clear and negative attitude towards symbolic delivery in Chinese law is to be applauded, and is to be regarded as a Chinese voice that should be insisted on and be brought into the upcoming Book of Property of the Chinese Civil Code.     

RETHINKING DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF RHETORIC

With its revival in recent years, rhetoric has provided a special perspective for modern people. If we take rhetoric as a framework to rethink democracy and rule of law, we may not only grasp a new understanding of them, but also gain more knowledge of the possible role of rhetoric in the contemporary world. We will find that rhetoric was closely related to democracy and rule of law, and is still fully accordant with ideas of democracy and rule of law in modern society. Moreover, rhetoric can provide intellectual support to these concepts.     

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE RULE OF LAW: IS THERE A TRADEOFF?

This essay assesses whether a strong evidence‐based argument can be made to support the proposition that when police violate the rule‐of‐law they do more harm than good with respect to their collective, as well as personal, interests. The assessment is undertaken to counter the common presumption among police officers that circumstances often justify cutting legal corners in the interests of public safety. The essay first examines what research shows about the facilitators of police law breaking. It then examines seven reasons why violating the rule‐of‐law works against the instrumental interests of the police themselves. After assessing the strength of the evidence against the instrumental benefit of violating the rule‐of‐law, suggestions are made about research that is needed to make the case more compelling. In conclusion, the essay discusses how empirical knowledge might be most productively used to change the culture of contemporary policing.     

THE EVOLUTION OF POLICY AND LAW FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

This article examines the evolution of politics and laws related to sustainable development in China. Sustainable development has been positioned as an economic development strategy many years ago. However, in earlier times, it bore a heavy tint of national strategy, followed by a kind of soft sustainable development with a technological orientation. The recent decade has seen China on track for strong sustainable development. At the present, China is around the turning point of the ＂Environmental Kuznets Curve,＂ where both domestic and international multiple pressures are forcing the whole country to make new choices for its dimension of sustainable development strategy. Although sustainable development has been recognized by the legal field of environmental resources, it is still not yet fully integrated into other areas of law. The period from weak to strong sustainable transition is accompanied by another transition, more significant in China, from industrial civilization to ecological civilization. Compared to weak sustainable development, the complex and contradictory character of strength has brought more challenges. Sustainable development of dualism and compromise, which corresponds with the actual needs in China, is an important theoretical basis and practical standards for implementing the scientific view of development. Finally, it concludes by noting that ecological civilization is attempting to solve the problems from a more broad perspective, and to pay more attention to public participation, at the same time to cover the shortage of environmental legislation.     

THE RULE OF LAW: A THEME IN FIVE VARIATIONS

This article unpacks the concept of the rule of law by distinguishing five distinct meanings of the term. These are: (1) the rule of practical wisdom, (2) the rule of the law, (3) rule by law, (4) the rule of law as a principle of constitutionalism, and (5) the rule of law as a power-building technique. It suggests that unless the particular meaning being used is clarified, discussion of the concept is likely to generate more heat than light.     

A CRITIQUE OF THE CRIME OF DELIBERATELY RENDERING AN ARBITRAL AWARD IN VIOLATION OF LAW

The crime of deliberately rendering an arbitral award in violation of law was provided at the end of Article 20 of the Amendment VI to the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China. Such a crime is likely to be misunderstood because views are sharply divided on its implication and scope of application. In addition, pertinent provisions are not manipulable. The wording of violation of law should not be included in articles of the law, as legalese. The charge is the product of redundant legislation, whose provisions are bound to be considered as pieces of blank paper. The creation of the crime disrespects arbitration, and removes the peculiarities of it. The charge of the crime undermines the profession of international arbitration. Therefore, the crime should be repealed. Where cases were arbitrated wrongly, and social harms were caused, criminal law and other laws would serve as remedies.     

ENERGY LAW IN SUPPORT OF THE LOW-CARBON TRANSITION: LESSONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA

Law is an important tool for national governments to promote the transition to a low carbon energy sector. However, law is the servant of national politics and policies and is embedded in a wider institutional environment, both nationally and internationally. This comparative analysis of the United Kingdom (UK) and China shows that, although national law plays a role in supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system, the nature of the law and the role it plays depends greatly on the wider institutional environment. The UK is a parliamentary democracy and a liberal market economy. Therefore, the laws passed by the legislature form a critical part of the framework for the low-carbon transition. In contrast, the authority of the executive in China allows the executive to govern the energy sector through decrees and regulations, and diminishes the role of law passed by the legislature. Energy law and policy in both the UK and China are formulated in the light of the prevailing energy policy paradigm: the market-oriented regulatory state paradigm in the UK and a state-centered paradigm in China. Together, these differences explain the contrasting experiences in promoting the low-carbon transition, in general, and the deployment of renewable energy in particular.     

FOUR DECADES OF CRIMINAL LAW RESEARCH: PATHS OF DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMATION

The year 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. In these past four decades, research in Chinese criminal law has recovered, stabilized, and developed, before it reached a stage of prosperity. The approach to research in criminal law has shifted from being one-dimensional to being comprehensive. The law now focuses on diverse issues, as opposed to singular ones. The discourse has shifted from an issue-led approach to a more systemic one. The tools used to interpret the law have shifted from substantive ones to a combination of substance and formality. As a result, the number of studies has increased, and in-depth research has grown over time. In the future, research in criminal law will become more specialized and diversified. Researchers will promote consciousness further, broaden their horizons, and promote fruitful research in criminal law.     

THE OVERVIEW ON THE UK-CHINA CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC LAW

Renmin University of China hosted the first ＂＇UK-China Conference on Public Law＂ on 2-6 September, 2013. The conference was a collaboration between Renmin University of China, Oxford University, University College of London （UCL）, China Association of Constitutional Law, and the United Kingdom Constitutional Law Group. The conference was eo-organised by Nick Barber from Oxford University, Jeff King from UCL, Han Dayuan from Renmin University and Li Ruiyi from Nankai University. It was partly sponsored by multinational law firm Clifford Chance. More than 50 Chinese and British academics participated. A range of topics was covered including the position of soft law and conventions in constitutions, constitutional structure, the rule of law, judicial independence, protection of human rights, interaction between welfare states and the rule of law, and the role of the court and the judge in regulating administration. Chinese and UK academics of public law actively participated in discussions. The conference marked an unprecedented communication and exchange on constitutionalism between Chinese and British scholars.     

AN OVERVIEW OF CHINESE LAW ON FOOD SAFETY

This article reviews the evolution of Chinese law on food safety and the concerned system defined by the Food Safety Law (2009) and other related laws. Although being improved by this law, in comparison with the Food Hygiene Law (1995), food safety still remains severe today. In analysing the food safety problems in China, it is found that the issues, such as tension between security and safety, problems in agricultural products, difficulties in administration and supervision etc., cannot be solved by this law in the near future.     

INCORPORATION OF UNCITRAL MODEL LAW ON INTERNATIONAL

Globalization has enabled China to rationalize and institutionalize its economic and political system. China has been quite successful in accommodating globalization in its legal reform. As China becomes one of the important trade players in the international market, the commercial disputes between Chinese companies and foreign trade-partners to be resolved through the arbitration are arising substantially. To an extent, China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) has sped up its legal reform in the past decades. However, there are some deficiencies with respect to the mechanism and legislation of China’s arbitration law that arguably is not responsive to the norms of the United Nations Commission on International Trade (UNCITRAL) Model Law (1985) and its Amendment (2006). This paper provides an overview of arbitration in China from the legislative and practical perspectives, covering the arbitration’s evolution history and problems before and after 1994. The paper focuses on some important issues in China’s Arbitration Law (“CAL”), evaluating its legislative defects which are inconsistent with the Model Law and its Amendment, clarifying how the Model Law was incorporated into China’s CAL. Some legislative amendments are recommended for CAL’s modernization and its practices, to align it with international arbitration norms in the future.     

THE REFORM OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN CHINA IS CONFRONTED WITH A CRUCIAL PERIOD OF STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES

On November 23, 2014, the Humanities and Social Sciences Forum of China, hosted by Renmin University of China and organized by Renmin Law School, was held in Yifu Conference Room of Renmin University of China. The theme of the forum is “China’s Rule of Law: Move Forward the Modernization of Regulatory Institutions and Regulatory Capacities of China.” The purpose of the forum is to further implement practices according to the spirits of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and to modernize the country’s regulatory institutions. Professor XIAO Yang, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of China, has delivered a keynote speech on “The Reform of the Judicial System in China Is Confronted with a Crucial Period of Strategic Opportunities.” He stated that currently China was experiencing a complicated and diversified period of transformation and that the rule of law should become a social consensus. To rule the country by law, first and foremost, it is critical to do so according to the Constitution; and to administer the country by law, it is essential to administer according to the Constitution. Good law and governance are the two basic aspects of the rule of law and should have a benign interaction in practice. Additionally, the top-level plans shall first be well-designed based upon the spirits of the Fourth Plenum and the constitutional rules, and then the judicial reforms shall be actively, smoothly, and gradually carried out according to the plans. This has become a new model of legal construction. Moreover, the relations among the various aspects shall be resolved correctly. Those aspects include the judicial systematic reforms and the working institutional reforms, the protection of judicial authority and the enhancement of supervision over governance, the relations among different interest groups from the long-term development perspective, and the systematic and cultural constructions of the law. Finally, he emphasized that the rule of law needed faith and dream and wished to see more young people to inherit the dream of the rule of law.     

法治中国的科学内涵

法治中国是中国法治建设的最终目标,但究竟何为法治中国却是一个难以达成共识的问题.然而,厘清何为法治中国的内涵是法治中国建设的逻辑起点.依据现代意义上的“法治”和“中国”的内涵以及法治中国与法治国家、法治政府、法治社会一体建设的关系理论可知,法治中国是法治国家、法治政府、法治社会一体建设完成后的结果,是指在整个中国领域范围内,法治成为一种全社会的主要生活方式和一种全民的信仰,并且形成和表现为科学立法、严格执法、公正司法、全民守法的一种良性法律秩序的现实状态.     

MEDIATION AND THE PROCESS OF FAMILY LAW REFORM

The family law system needs fixing. The real question is how to go about fixing it. The concept of mediation and its process should be vital in the rethinking and restructuring of the system. This article discusses how mediation can be used in policy-making to get all the stakeholders in the family law system to creatively and non-judgmentally work toward reform. The author contends that increased legal access and speedy low-cost dispute resolution should be at the top of the reform agenda. Courts and professional offices are valued for their consumer-friendliness, stressing nonadversarial settings and cleint education. Unbundling is urged to be not only accepted but also promoted as a practice to meet the legal needs of families. The article concludes with the argument that effective reform should incorporate the principles of mediation, and the reform process should take advantage of models of consumer friendliness from both the public and private sectors .     

UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF RECIPROCITY REQUIREMENT FOR RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS IN JAPAN

This article deals with reciprocity requirement for recognition of foreign judgments in Japan. Following German law, Japanese law requires reciprocity to the rendering state in addition to the jurisdiction of the state, the service of process, and the compatibility with Japanese public policy. Although Japanese courts have rarely refused the recognition of foreign judgments for lack of reciprocity for a long time, some Chinese judgments recently have not been recognized for this reason. The author clarifies first with historical review what was the purpose of the Japanese legislator, when the original law of 1890 required the reciprocity by international treaties, and when later the reform law of 1926 required the simple reciprocity that is similarly provided in the current law. The author surveys then the Japanese case law concerning the reciprocity requirement after the reform of 1926. The author focuses further on the reciprocity between Japan and China and compares the Japanese practice with the German one that led to a different result. Last, it is concluded that the reciprocity requirement is contrary to the protection of human rights under Japanese constitution.     

中国法文化传统与现代法治

中国传统社会未将自由与权利概念化并不意味着中国古人无自由与权利。中国传统法律制度在整体上应当被改造、被置换,但并不意味着古人积累的技术智慧与程序艺术不可被承继,更不意味着支撑法文化传统的基于人性又反映中国文化特质的原则可以被抛弃。中国文化传统仍然是我们探讨中国现代法治的逻辑起点。