Cadets meet with PRC Law Expert Qianfan Zhang

As part of a CLCRS / DoD Minerva Grant Research Project into the Discourse Analysis of "Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics," LTC Gregory led cadets Ruppert, Bishop, Young, White, and Harte on a Trip Section in Beijing to meet with Chinese judicial officials and legal scholars as well as to experience Chinese judicial procedures. The cadets observed a full trial at the Beijing Haidian District People's Court and engaged in an extensive review of the case file; as well as explanation of Chinese judicial procedure and question and answer session with Judge Fan and Judge Jiang. Each of the cadets will prepare a brief report detailing their observations that will be included as part of this DoD Research project. Afterwards, the cadets were hosted by well-known constitutional legal scholar Professor Qianfan Zhang for a lunch discussion at Peking University Law School. The day's events, which were conducted entirely in the Chinese language and were only possible because of the cadets' language ability, were the capstone of a four-day China trip section that included multiple cultural outings and discussions with Chinese citizens from all walks of life. Overall, the trip made a valuable contribution to our understanding of Chinese Rule of Law efforts and discourse as well as served as an intense language-culture immersion activity.