2026 A Foreign National Detained in China: A Guide to Retaining a Chinese Criminal Defense Lawyer
When a foreign national is subject to criminal compulsory measures in China, a series of procedural questions arise—consular notification, interpretation, lawyer visits, and applications to change the compulsory measure—that differ significantly from criminal procedure in most home jurisdictions. This article outlines the main types of compulsory measures, explains the rights a foreign national holds under Chinese law, clarifies why a PRC-licensed lawyer is required, sets out the lawyer's work at each stage from investigation through trial, provides four criteria for selecting cross-border criminal counsel, and introduces the foreign-related criminal practice of Yingke Shenzhen Law Firm.