China amends criminal law for young offenders

Offenders as young as 12 will not be able to rely on their tender years to escape criminal punishment. - AFP

BEIJING (China Daily/Asia News Network): Offenders as young as 12 will not be able to rely on their tender years to escape criminal punishment, as China amends its criminal law such that the minimum age of criminal responsibility can be lowered in special circumstances.

The change will take effect on March 1. It comes in response to a number of extreme cases, including intentional killing and intentional injury, committed by minors aged 14 and below that shocked the nation and triggered widespread concern.