Beyond 2018

Self defense

In September, police and prosecutors in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, concluded that Yu Haiming, an electrician, acted in self-defense when he fatally wounded a man and therefore would not face any criminal charges.

Yu was attacked with a long knife by Liu Hailong. After Liu staggered and fell to the ground, Yu picked up the knife and stabbed Liu.

? Expert: Zhao Lei, a lawyer at and partner and vice-director of Beijing Zewen Law Firm

The Supreme People's Court recently released four case studies to clarify what is meant by self-defense in law. The Kunshan case is one of the cases. The recognition of justifiable self-defense in the Kunshan case shows China's criminal law is undergoing continuous refinement.

Statutory laws strive to provide comprehensive rules. Yet they are relatively general in nature and cannot be applied to all cases.

According to the criminal law, if a person acts in self-defense against an attacker, potential murderer, robber, rapist, kidnapper or any other criminal who threatens his or her personal safety, he or she shall not bear criminal responsibility even if their action causes injury or death to the perpetrator.

That clause has been widely received welcomed. However, in judicial practice, that clause is seldom applied.

The Kunshan case prompted the top court to further define justifiable self-defense and clarify the situations in which self-defense should be considered excessive.

Conundrum

Confrontation, stalemate and imbalance best describe the situation in the Middle East in 2018. The US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May and moved its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in June.

? Expert: Hua Liming, China's former ambassador to Iran and the United Arab Emirates, and now a researcher on Middle East studies

By pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, US President Donald Trump has nullified the foreign policy achievement of his predecessor Barack Obama, and triggered what could be a destructive arms race in the Middle East.

The US has re-imposed sanctions on Iran, including those lifted under the historic Iran nuclear deal, driving Teheran into a corner.

The intensifying conflict between Washington and Teheran is now the greatest concern in the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is becoming increasingly marginalized.

The goal of the US and Israel is clear: to marginalize Iran. Iran is now involved in nearly all serious conflicts in the Middle East, almost always on the side of those the US considers enemies. So the US and Israel will do whatever it takes to portray Iran as an enemy of the Arab world.

And although Trump is not always predictable, his moves suggest he is trying to woo voters in the US, because irrespective of the midterm election results, he is keen on seeking re-election in 2020.