Comparative Criminal Justice in Asia

This subject delves into the nuances of criminal justice across Asia, with a concentrated focus on five East Asian jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (in alphabetical order). The rationale behind selecting these jurisdictions lies in their cultural similarities and shared experiences of rapid economic development, alongside their distinct legal and political frameworks. Notably, while Hong Kong operates under a common-law tradition, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are recognised as part of the civil-law family. This divergence extends to economic and political transitions, with China’s shift from planned to market economy, and the democratic evolutions and transitional justice issues encountered by South Korea and Taiwan in the late 1980s.