Detained female activists illustrate contradiction in Chinese law reforms

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2015

A month ago, Chinese authorities detained at least 10female activists who were planning to mark International Women’s Day with peaceful demonstrations. Such a contradiction – between harsh, extralegal treatment of political dissent and a vigorous effort to improve the credibility of the courts –increasingly has come to define China’s legal climate under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.