Why more people feel safe in China: The role of law and governance

A dramatic highway pursuit in northeast China's Jilin Province recently looked like a scene from a crime movie – but it was a real police operation targeting an online fraud group.

The case began when a man surnamed Li was lured into a scam through a fake dating website and lost nearly 80,000 yuan (about $11,000) through cash payments and bank transfers. After detecting the suspicious activity, police tracked down the suspects and eventually dismantled the criminal group behind the scheme.

In recent years, as technology develops, criminal activities have also evolved. Traditional organized crime is increasingly intertwined with internet-based crimes, creating new challenges for law enforcement. To address these threats, China has continued to strengthen efforts against organized crime and illegal activities that directly affect people's daily lives.

In 2018, China launched a three-year nationwide campaign against organized crime and criminal gangs. Official data showed that police nationwide dismantled 3,644 criminal organizations and more than 11,600 criminal groups during the campaign.

Since 2021, the fight has entered a regularized phase. In July this year, Chinese authorities launched a new nationwide campaign to deepen efforts against organized crime. The latest campaign placed particular emphasis on new forms of crime emerging in the digital era, including online extortion, illegal lending, unlawful debt collection and other internet-based fraud schemes.

"With the rapid development of digital technology, traditional organized crime and internet-based crimes are becoming increasingly intertwined," a senior official with China's Commission for Political and Legal Affairs told People's Daily. "We must focus on crimes that people are most concerned about and most strongly oppose, solve major cases and allow people to feel secure in their daily lives."

From fighting crime to protecting people's rights

For China, the rule of law is not only about maintaining public order, but also about building a system that protects people's rights and improves the predictability of everyday life.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has advanced the construction of a safer society through science-based legislation, stronger law enforcement, improved supervision and expanded legal services.

Legal reforms have increasingly focused on issues closely linked to people's daily concerns. The Civil Code, for example, established a dedicated section on personality rights, strengthening protection of privacy, reputation and other personal rights. China has also continued to improve mechanisms for preventing and addressing domestic violence, including measures such as personal safety protection orders to better safeguard the rights and personal security of women and children.

In the environmental field, China's Ecological Environment Code officially took effect on August 15, providing a more comprehensive legal framework for ecological protection and strengthening safeguards for people's rights to a healthy living environment.

Beyond legislation, China has expanded its public legal service system by providing legal aid, free consultations and legal education services in both urban and rural areas, helping make legal protection more accessible and reducing the cost for people seeking assistance.

At the same time, China has continued nationwide legal education campaigns, bringing legal knowledge into villages, communities and households, encouraging people to resolve disputes through legal channels and develop greater awareness of the role of law in everyday life.

'Chinese sense of security'

Through sustained efforts to strengthen public security and advance the rule of law, China has fostered a strong sense of security among its people and visitors. According to Gallup's 2025 Global Security Report, China ranked among the world's top performers in perceived safety and law and order.

Domestically, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the number of criminal cases nationwide declined 12.8% in 2025 year on year, reaching the lowest level this century. Data from the Ministry of Public Security showed that China's homicide rate was 0.44 cases per 100,000 people in 2024, placing it among the countries with the lowest homicide rates globally.

Another survey by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the public sense of security reached 98.23% in 2025, remaining above 98% for six consecutive years.

The impact of these efforts has also been reflected in the experiences of many foreign visitors and expatriates. 

Since the beginning of this year, the phrase "Chinese sense of security" has gained popularity online, as travelers and content creators from around the world share their observations of life in China. For many, this sense of security is found in everyday moments – from walking alone at night in major cities and navigating daily life through convenient digital services to experiencing orderly and well-managed public spaces.

These personal observations have developed into a broader discussion about social stability, economic predictability and the reliability of daily life – especially at a time when many countries are facing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

From combating organized crime to improving legislation and expanding access to legal services, China's approach to the rule of law is increasingly reflected in people's everyday lives. Rather than being a slogan, the rule of law has become a series of concrete measures designed to protect people's rights and provide a stable and predictable environment for them to live, work and thrive.