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Last Update2025-06-28
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Event Overview
On June 27, 2025, China's Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress passed a revised Public Security Management Punishment Law, effective January 1, 2026. The amendment clarifies self-defense rights, distinguishing lawful defense from mutual combat, and exempts lawful self-defense from penalties. It also introduces stricter measures for juvenile offenders, including detention for repeat offenders aged 14-16, and holds schools accountable for bullying incidents. The law responds to rising juvenile crime and public concerns over self-defense cases.
Event Timeline
New Law Ends Mutual Assault Stance in Self-Defense Cases
On June 27, 2025, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress passed a revised Public Security Management Punishment Law, which will take effect on January 1, 2026. This significant amendment addresses issues related to the self-defense rights of citizens, particularly in the context of interactions involving minors and public safety. Under the new law, citizens are explicitly granted the right to take defensive measures when faced with unlawful aggression, providing protection for themselves and others against potential violence.
This law emerged from the need to clarify previous ambiguities surrounding self-defense cases. A notable catalyst for this amendment was an incident reported on May 20, 2025, involving Ms. Zhang, a restaurant owner in Zibo, Shandong province, who retaliated against an intoxicated man, Liu, who assaulted her. Initially judged as mutual fighting, the case was later re-evaluated with the court determining her actions were legitimate self-defense, resulting in no penalties against her.
One of the pivotal aspects of the revised law is the stipulation that public security agencies must differentiate between lawful self-defense and mutual combat. It outlines reasonable limits on defensive actions, aiming to prevent excessive responses that could lead to further injury. Furthermore, it establishes that lawful self-defense will not incur administrative penalties, thus empowering citizens who enact self-defense under imminent threat.
The amendment also addresses the issue of bullying among minors by implementing stronger measures for handling incidents involving students. Those aged between 14 to 16 who display repeated unlawful behavior are subject to detention, a shift from past policies that generally avoided punitive measures for this age group. Additionally, schools will face repercussions for failing to report or manage severe bullying incidents, thereby promoting collaboration between law enforcement and educational institutions in safeguarding students. The rise in minor crime rates has necessitated this response, with the Supreme People's Court reporting an increase of 4.3% in juvenile delinquency cases in 2024.
Overall, the new law signifies a substantial shift in how self-defense is viewed in the legal ecosystem of China, particularly in response to public outcry regarding self-defense scenarios and the rising concerns over juvenile offenses.