Chinese Law and Politics Blog

Position: Research Fellow at National University of Singapore

The East Asian Institute (EAI) at the National University of Singapore
seeks to appoint two or more research fellows and senior research
fellows. Applicants should possess an earned Ph.D. in a social science
discipline (esp. economics, political science, sociology, and
international relations) and must be interested in conducting academic
and policy-relevant research on contemporary China or overseas
Chinese. Successful candidates will be offered an initial contract of
up to two years (renewable). Scholars may also come for shorter terms
on visiting appointments.

Chinese Authorities Release 2007 Action Plan on Intellectual Property Protection

Member agencies of the Chinese national working group on intellectual property (IP) protection released their 2007 Action Plan on April 23, according to a Xinhua news release of the same date.  The full text of the plan in English is available on the Xinhua website, while a full text version of the plan in Chinese is available on the People's Daily website.

The plan proposes a number of steps aimed at improving intellectual property protection in China, including enforcement campaigns, legislative reform, popular education activities, and increased international exchanges.

Position: Program Officer, American Bar Association, China Program

The ABA's China Program is currently accepting applications for a Program Officer position in our Beijing office.  Please see the announcement below for further details.

What Has Happened to Petitioning in China Since the 2005 Xinfang Regulations?

Chinese authorities report overwhelming success in resolving citizen grievances and reducing the numbers of petitions brought through the xinfang (letters and visits) system since the amendment of the national xinfang regulations in 2005. But a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) suggests that the core institutional problems with the system continue unchecked.

The Rise of China and the Interests of the United States

While the grinding Iraq war currently dominates the attention of the American public and government, China’s steady rise in economic and political influence is the single event that will reshape international politics in the 21st century.  Sooner or later, American officials will turn their attention to confronting this issue. There are two key points to keep in mind.

[Click here for the full version of the op-ed in the April/May edition of the Ripon Forum.]

Chinese Judiciary Seeks to Divert Administrative Cases Out of Litigation

Chinese judicial authorities are making a major push to increase the use of alternative methods to resolve administrative litigation cases. In part, this is an effort to improve mechanisms for resolving citizen grievances. But it is also specifically aimed at channeling cases involving sensitive issues affecting large numbers of aggrieved plaintiffs, such as land seizures, out of the courtroom.

Position: Field Director, IUP Chinese Language Program in Beijing, China

The Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies (IUP), administered by UC Berkeley, is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Field Director. The appointment begins in summer 2007, and a full-time commitment of two years or longer is desired.

Position for Associate Director of LL.M. Program at UMKC

The University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law is seeking applications for an Associate Director of its LL.M. Program for Foreign and Chinese Lawyers.  This program currently has approximately 14 students from China forecast for the coming year, and may eventually grow to about 20 students per year.