The Concept of Crime in Chinese Criminal Law Theory: Its Dual Structure and Functions

I. The Concept of Crime witha Dual StructureThe concept of crime is described at two levels in Chinese criminallaw theory. Firstly, the intrinsic nature or essential content of crime isdescribed from the perspective of its basic attributes; a crime involvesconduct that is seriously harmful to society and violates the Chinesecriminal code, and should therefore be criminally punishable. 1 Secondly,the conditions that constitute a crime are described from the perspectiveof concrete characteris…