In Depth: How China Is Trying to Get Debt Dodgers to Pay Up

China is pushing ahead with long-awaited legislation designed to crack down on the dishonest tactics that debtors — including government agencies — use to dodge court orders demanding they repay their debts.

In June, the first draft of the civil compulsory enforcement law was submitted to the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for a first reading. Although drafts usually go through three readings before being passed by the top legislature, the submission brings China closer to its first law specifically on the enforcement of civil judgements — something many of the country’s legal experts and judicial officials have been calling for more than two decades.