China’s Covid-19 Response: Of Powers and Punishments

Date: Thursday 16 July
Time: 4pm-5pm
Venue: RHMZ03, Rutherford House, Pipitea Campus VUW [Map of venue]
Online: Zoom link available on request Register Here

Abstract

This talk discusses the legal basis of China’s Covid-19 responses and the enforcement of laws and rules, or in other words, the powers of authorities and the punishment of rule-breakers. It finds that China’s laws give authorities flexible power to enforce emergency responses and to punish breaches by the public. The balance between effective and swift control of the epidemic, and the sanctity of law and the wellbeing or liberty of a small portion of the population is considered.

About the speaker

Dr Ruiping Ye is a Lecturer in Law at the Victoria University of Wellington, where she earned her PhD and LLM (Distinction) from. Ruiping teaches and researches in the areas of comparative law, Chinese legal system, land law and aboriginal land tenure, and has published on these topics. Her book, The Colonisation and Settlement of Taiwan, 1684-1945: Land Tenure, Law and Qing and Japanese Policies (Routledge, 2019), examines the relationship between legal system, colonial policies and aboriginal land tenure changes from a comparative law perspective. Ruiping has an LLB from China and is an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.