Foreign petitioner highlights a system bent to power

• Source: Global Times
• [22:58 December 22 2009]
• Comments

The focus of this case should not be her foreign identity, but it reminds us that we should look outside.

Since the reform and opening-up, China's relations with the world have undergone historic changes. Many public policies and mechanisms for the administration of justice will be debated directly or indirectly in a regional or global context.

With the increasing breadth and density of China's participation in world a. airs, the public goods provided by China will become more abundant.

Moreover, the boundary between the domestic and international nature of public goods will also be gradually blurred. China must urgently strengthen her capabilities of coordinating "domestic and international a. airs" at all levels.

"Petition," a word with strong Chinese features, is now becoming the weapon of a foreigner to defend her rights. Such change will undoubtedly create a new meaning for this word and be a small step along China's road toward the rule of law.

The author is a Beijing-based journalist. xiaokailin@sina.com