ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the development of the internet and increased public participation facilitate the amendment of Chinese criminal law. It examines the “problem stream” that has driven the amendments to the criminal law with the aim of examining the role the public plays in generating the “problem.” The chapter argues that in the focusing events, collective forces from emotional, negative online voices empower the public who have been unable to express themselves properly. It provides the platform for information transmission and open discussion, shapes the development of such events. The chapter analyzes survey results concerning public emotions as a comparison to online discourse. Problems are often not self-evident by the indicators. Environmental cases such as water pollution have also become increasingly serious since the 2000s. Chinese society is extremely diverse with multiple participants and dynamics, and can never be fully described through a single aspect.
