China's opaque legal system is controlled by the Communist Party, and those charged are almost always found guilty.
- China has arrested a Chinese-born Australian writer on suspicion of espionage, the Australian government said on Tuesday, as tension grows between Canberra and its largest trading partner.
Cases involving state secrets or national security are often treated more harshly than other criminal cases, with the death penalty handed down in serious instances, although China only rarely executes foreigners. Where they are being held remains unclear. Sources familiar with Kovrig's case have said at least initially he was questioned daily without access to a lawyer and confined to a single room.In 2016, China detained Swedish national Peter Dahlin, who was working for a group supporting public interest lawyers, academics and others to promote the rule of law, on suspicion of acts detrimental to national security.