China’s judicial authorities reported a substantial increase in international legal disputes during 2025, with approximately 40,000 first-instance civil and commercial cases involving foreign parties processed throughout the year. This represents a remarkable 50 percent surge compared to previous year’s figures, according to official data released by the Supreme People’s Court on January 19, 2026.
The dramatic rise in cross-border litigation reflects China’s expanding global economic engagement and the judicial system’s evolving capacity to handle complex international legal matters. The Supreme People’s Court emphasized that these developments demonstrate the nation’s continued commitment to enhancing foreign-related adjudication capabilities while ensuring equal protection for both domestic and international litigants.
Beyond international cases, Chinese courts managed an overwhelming volume of over 20 million first-instance civil and commercial disputes nationwide, marking an 11 percent annual increase. Intellectual property litigation showed significant growth with more than 470,000 cases processed, representing a five percent year-on-year increase that underscores China’s evolving innovation landscape.
Environmental justice also saw substantial developments, with courts processing over 160,000 first-instance civil environmental cases—an 11 percent increase that demonstrates strengthened judicial support for ecological protection initiatives.
In criminal justice, authorities intensified efforts against criminal offenses, processing more than 1 million first-instance criminal cases while sentencing over 1.4 million defendants. Notably, both case numbers and conviction rates demonstrated a year-on-year decline, suggesting potential improvements in crime prevention strategies.
The comprehensive judicial data reveals a nation undergoing rapid legal transformation across multiple domains, with particular significance for international businesses and investors engaged with China’s expanding economy.