Film puts justifiable defense in spotlight

A poster for the film Article 20 shows actress Zhao Liying portraying a deaf-mute mother. Drawing inspiration from real-life cases of justifiable defense, the film has garnered widespread attention and resonated with the public as well as judicial institutions during the Spring Festival holiday. Beyond the statutory provisions, cases involving justifiable defense are often complex, with many lacking adequate evidence, leading to sometimes controversial determinations, Ji said. The concern over justifiable defense reflects the public's demand for democracy, rule of law, fairness, justice and security, Ji said, adding that the principle of "not compromising with unlawfulness" must guide prosecutors in handling such cases. Making decisions departing from traditional precedents requires courage and accountability, Liu said, adding that judicial authorities must consistently support justifiable defense and intervention to empower the public to combat illegal activities.