| Summary/Abstract |
This paper is devoted to the political, legal, and state development of the People's Republic of China from 2018 to early 2023. Based on reports presented at the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (March 2023), we examine the main performance indicators of the State Council, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. We also analyze the personnel lineup of the 14th National People's Congress. This paper presents the main resolutions passed by the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee from 2018 to 2023 in the constitutional, criminal, civil, and administrative fields. The authors predict the development of the PRC's legal system in the near future. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has passed several important laws, including the Law on Countering Foreign Sanctions and amendments to the current Criminal Code that lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years. The law-enforcement and judicial systems have demonstrated a high degree of effectiveness in combating conventional crime. Overall, amid the volatile international situation and rising tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, the Chinese leadership has focused on improving the combat readiness of the armed forces, strengthening national defense, and ensuring national security, including through the adoption of appropriate legal acts.
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