ABSTRACT
In 1996 Jiang Zemin adopted the new tifa, or official policy formulation, of ruling the country in accordance with law and establishing a socialist rule of law state (yifa zhiguo, jianshe shuhui zhuyi fazhiguo), which was subsequently incorporated into the Constitution in 1999. However, while China’s leaders have officially endorsed rule of law, they have not sanctioned the liberal democratic version. Significantly, there is relatively little support for liberal democracy, and hence a liberal democratic rule of law, among state leaders, legal scholars, intellectuals, or the general public. On the contrary, study after study shows most people are more concerned about stability and economic growth than democracy and civil and political liberties.1
