China to intensify legal review

China is set to intensify its in-depth review and examination of normative documents, including administrative regulations and judicial interpretations, to ensure their alignment with the Constitution, as part of broader efforts to enhance the rule of law.

The review was outlined in a report submitted for deliberation to Monday's ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body.

In 2026, the NPC Standing Committee will focus its constitutional review efforts on areas such as regulating public power, protecting the rights of people and upholding justice, with the aim of deepening constitutional awareness among the drafters of normative documents, pursuing the full implementation of the Constitution and fulfilling constitutional responsibilities, the report stated.

It was also revealed that, throughout the course of this year, the NPC Standing Committee received 2,309 normative documents submitted for filing and review, with 6,705 suggestions requesting the review of potentially problematic documents received from individual citizens and organizations.

During the review process, when finding issues related to constitutionality, legality or appropriateness in normative documents, "we've urged the authorities that issued the documents and their markers to promptly revise, repeal or otherwise address them", Shen Chunyao, head of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, said while delivering the report to the session.

Among those local regulations and rules that went against the Constitution, some stipulated that vehicles used for ride-hailing services must cost no less than 120,000 yuan ($17,000) and the registration of motorized wheelchair vehicles for persons with disabilities should require local permanent residency.

These provisions were questioned as being inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution or national laws, and after the review, the commission has called for their correction or revision, Shen added.