The Chinese press and libel: Political and legal implications

1995 marks the 10th anniversary of Shen & Mu v. Du, the first libel case against the press in the history of the People's Republic of China. Through case and statutory analysis, this study identified various factors accounting for the explosion of libel litigation against the Chinese media since then and current problems faced by the Chinese media and judiciary in handling libel suits. In addition, it evaluated the impact of libel litigation on the country's press and legal systems. In conclusion, the authors expressed the belief that although the increase in libel litigation targeted against the media reflects the progress China has made in perfecting its legal system and educating the Chinese people in their civil rights and on legal matters, it has also produced a chilling effect on the media. This is especially dangerous for a society like China which is not yet used to having its problems scrutinized and publicized by the media.