Chinese Judgments Go Global: Emerging Systemic Challenges and Confidence Deficit

This post analyzes the historic rise in cross-border judgment enforcement involving China, specifically focusing on the persistent challenges hindering the recognition of Chinese judgments abroad. It identifies two primary obstacles—emerging legal hurdles regarding systemic due process and a "confidence deficit" among Chinese creditors—and argues that addressing these is essential to sustaining the framework of mutual recognition.

Judicial Pragmatism in Cross-Border Service: China's Supreme Court Tackles Service Evasion in Patent Dispute Involving Amazon

In the case of Amazon Joyo v. CNIPA & Seletech et al. (2024), China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) addressed the procedural hurdles of serving an elusive foreign litigant in an intellectual property dispute. By integrating the Hague Service Convention with domestic civil procedure, the SPC validated a non-hierarchical, multi-track service strategy.

Australia NSW Court Enforces Chinese Judgment Against Guarantor Directly

In February 2025, the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, granted recognition and enforcement to a Chinese monetary judgment of the First Intermediate People's Court of Hainan Province (Yangpu Huigu Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited v He [2025] NSWSC 28).

New Zealand Court Enforces Chinese Mediation Judgment for the First Time

In November 2023, the High Court of New Zealand granted a summary judgment to enforce two Chinese court judgments (Tian v Xu [2023] NZHC 3259), marking the first reported case of a New Zealand court enforcing a Chinese mediation judgment—also known as a civil settlement statement.

December 2025 Update: List of China’s Cases on Recognition of Foreign Judgments

On 31 Dec. 2025, China Justice Observer released the 2025 version of the List of China’s Cases on Recognition of Foreign Judgments. To date, we have collected 120 cases involving China and 26 foreign States and regions. (Note: Foreign divorce judgments are excluded from the Case List.)

MOU on Foreign Law in Action: Chinese Court Enforces Second Singapore Monetary Judgment in 2025

In March 2025, China’s Suzhou Intermediate People's Court recognized and enforced a Singapore monetary judgment in Golden Barley International Pte Ltd v Xiao (2023) Su 05 Xie Wai Ren No. 8. This case marks the first judicial application of the China-Singapore Memorandum of Understanding on Information on Foreign Law to ascertain Singapore law.

Guess How Much? 2025 Update on Expenses for Enforcing Foreign Judgments in China

This 2025 update on expenses for enforcing foreign judgments in China confirms the consistent application of dual-track court fee standards. Fees are charged per case (CNY 50-500) for non-monetary obligations or recognition-only applications, while a progressive scale applies to combined recognition and enforcement (R&E) of monetary judgments.

Positive Cycle: Chinese Court Enforces Korean Trademark Judgments, Confirming De Jure Reciprocity with South Korea

In December 2024, the Beijing Fourth Intermediate People’s Court ruled to recognize and enforce two South Korean trademark judgments (SD Biotechnologies Co. Ltd v. LAP F&C (2022) Jing 04 Xie Wai Ren No.23-1). This marks the second reported case of a Korean IP-related judgment being recognized in China, following a similar case four years prior.

New Zealand Court Enforces Chinese Judgment Despite “Natural Justice” Challenge

In December 2024, the High Court of New Zealand ruled to enforce a Chinese monetary judgment, rejecting the judgment debtor's natural justice defense (Hebei Huaneng Industrial Development Co Ltd v Shi [2024] NZHC 3656).

Beyond the Memorandum: Shanghai Court Enforces Singapore Judgment by Confirming “Reciprocal Consensus” Under China’s New Framework

On January 8, 2025, the Shanghai International Commercial Court recognized and enforced a Singapore High Court monetary judgment in Zhao v Ye (2023) Hu 01 Xie Wai Ren No. 28. It marks the first judicial confirmation of “reciprocal consensus” between China and Singapore under the 2022 reciprocity criteria, based on the China-Singapore Memorandum of Guidance (MOG).