China has drafted its first Animal Protection Law. At present, Chinese animal law covers wildlife only. A team of experts headed by Chang Jiwen, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Social Law Research Department, is looking to change this. On June 15, 2009, state media reported that the team finished drafting China’s first Animal Protection Law. According to the draft, severe cases of animal abuse, such as the hauling of cats from all over China to Guangdong Province for a Cantonese delicacy of shui zhu huo mao or water-boiled live cats, can result in the jailing of violators. Lighter punishments include fines of up to 6,000 yuan ($877.50) and detention periods of 15 days or less.

The draft also proposes implanting data chips in pets as a means of controlling stray populations, and improving farm animal welfare through the adoption of humane breeding, transportation, and slaughter practices. In August, the draft law will be published to solicit public opinion and will be submitted to various government departments by year-end. Repeated accounts of animal abuse reported by the Chinese media have spurred on the legal drafting team’s work. In 2002 for example, a student from Tsinghua University poured sulphuric acid into the mouths of Beijing zoo’s black bears. In 2005, a graduate student from Fudan University abused 30 stray cats, gouging out their eyes, and eventually killing them. More recently, in 2006, a group of teenage girls in high heels trampled a number of cats to death, supposedly for fun. An Internet uproar ensued and the events sparked off heated ethical debates.

While China’s animal lovers responded eagerly to news of the draft law, critical voices were also heard. “We’re unable even to take care of the numerous poor, let alone animals. Let’s talk about human rights first!” was a common public response. Some went further, accusing the scholars and activists of blindly emulating the West and pointing out the hypocrisy of “animal welfare,” as the animals are ultimately killed regardless of how humane the slaughter.

In an interview with CCTV, Professor Chang, head of the drafting team, responded to such criticisms. He stressed that the team sought to craft the law in accord with the actual conditions for animals in China, with anti-abuse (that is, punishing the infliction of unnecessary pain on nonhuman animals) forming the basis of the law. Professor Chang admitted that it while it is currently unrealistic for China to mirror Western standards of animal welfare, he detailed step-by-step measures to improve Chinese animal welfare that can be implemented within the next two decades.

A final version of the draft law will have to go through the State Council, China's highest executive organ, and undergo three readings at the National People’s Congress (China's national legislature) before taking effect. Every change in life presents its own set of challenges. Such difficulties are inevitable, but are never reason enough to avoid action. This draft presents the Chinese people with a plan detailing not only better animal treatment, but also reforms to industrial animal agriculture systems and rural labor. The "humane" path will encounter roadblocks in China, but it is an important route to the future.

Just a month after the draft version of China’s first animal protection law was completed, animal activists in China are pushing the movement forward, attempting to end animal abuse in the Chinese film industry.

Recently, the shooting of the new version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms (adapted from one of the four major classical novels of Chinese literature) hit the nerve of China’s animal activists. In a July interview with Beijing News, director Gao Xixi, spoke of efforts to impress the audience with “splendor”. “I have absolute confidence in the battle scenes that feature the TV series…We specially import horses from New Zealand. Horses bred in China look like donkeys, not strong enough. Six horses died and eight went crazy during the shooting. You can imagine the scene!”

Mang Ping, associate professor of the Central Institute of Socialism and a pioneer of China’s animal protection movement, first voiced her concern in an op-ed published in the August 2 issue of the Beijing News. “Our film production is not lacking in luxurious scenes but the basic ethical principles.” She says, concerned that such “ill” tastes might produce negative impact on the audience, especially children.

Professor Mang’s comment was echoed by Don’t Eat Friends (the most active and influential animal protection group in China headed by Giant Beanstalk, a rock band made up of vegan members). “It’s not art, but a stain on art.” says Xie Zheng, leader of the group and head of the musical band who obviously has a different view of artistic creation.

Nonhuman animals who are sentient beings just like humankind deserve respect and compassion. While the random use of animals to revive a historical scene is unnecessary (it can be fulfilled with computer graphics), it implies men’s intrinsic sense of superiority over animals. For every country striving for humaneness, such events carry hope because awareness induces change. Hopefully, it will lead China towards closer media censorship that incorporates non-animal cruelty.