Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

China’s Water Law and Policy Reform: How Far Have We Travelled?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Towards Tradable Water Rights

Part of the book series: Global Issues in Water Policy ((GLOB,volume 18))

Abstract

Dominated by the philosophy of “man can conquer nature”, China’s water governance was traditionally oriented towards construction and utilisation rather than conservation and protection of water resources. It failed to encourage water saving and high water use efficiency due to its ineffective administrative allocation mechanism and fragmented management. Reflecting on the failure of the traditional notion of water use, and in particular its perception on the human-nature relationship, China has been undergoing a large-scale water reform, “Building a water saving society”. This water reform aims to achieve “harmonious coexistence between man and nature” by establishing a national water right system. This chapter reviews the current legal and policy developments in water rights trading in China. It provides an insightful understanding of the legal and institutional context within which tradable water rights have to be developed and operated. China is a country that has been experiencing fundamental changes in its economic, social, political, and legal systems over the past three decades. The evolution of China’s approaches to water management is representative of such transition. This chapter therefore also reviews the institutional framework of China’s water resources management, including laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks related to the key issues in water resources management. Such understanding is critical as it provides an overview of the starting point for future legal and policy reform towards tradable water rights.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Legislation here only refers to the laws enacted by the NPC and its standing committee of China . Unlike states in other foreign countries, China’s provinces have no power to make legislations. Rather, they can only produce implementing rules for legislations or provincial regulations in their local context.

  2. 2.

    William P. Alford and Yuanyuan Shen, “Limits of the Law in Addressing China ’s Environmental Dilemma,” Stanford Environment Law Journal 16 (1997): 125–148. Also see Stefanie Beyer, “Environmental Law and Policy in the People’s Republic of China,” Chinese Journal of International Law 5, no. 1 (2006): 185–211.

  3. 3.

    1982 Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (2004 Amendments), http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Constitution/node_2825.htm (accessed May 21, 2017), Preamble, the last paragraph.

  4. 4.

    Ibid, art. 5:3.

  5. 5.

    Ibid, art. 9.

  6. 6.

    Ibid, art. 26.

  7. 7.

    1989 Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China , http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Law/2007-12/12/content_1383917.htm (accessed May 21, 2017), art. 2.

  8. 8.

    Patricia Wouters et al., “The New Development of Water Law in China ,” University of Denver Water Law Review 7 (2004): 259.

  9. 9.

    2002 Water Law of the People’s Republic of China , http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Law/2007-12/12/content_1383920.htm (accessed May 21 2017), art. 2.

  10. 10.

    Elizabeth C. Economy, The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China ’s Future (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2004), 101. Also see Beyer, “Environmental Law and Policy in the People’s Republic of China”.

  11. 11.

    1984 Law of the People’s Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution Prevention (2008 Amendments), http://www.mwr.gov.cn/english/laws.html (accessed May 22, 2017), art. 2.

  12. 12.

    2003 Administrative Permission Law of the People’s Republic of China , http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Law/2007-12/05/content_1381966.htm (accessed May 22, 2017), art. 9.

  13. 13.

    2007 Property Law of the People’s Republic of China , http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Law/2009-02/20/content_1471118.htm (accessed May 21, 2017), art. 118.

  14. 14.

    Ibid, art. 123.

  15. 15.

    Australia China Environment Development Program, Report on the Development of Water Rights and Trading in the People’s Republic of China, Canberra: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia, 2006, 8.

  16. 16.

    1993 Implementing Measures on the Water Abstraction Permits System (China State Council), http://www.chinawater.net.cn/law/W03.htm (accessed 28 September, 2008), art. 26.

  17. 17.

    2006 Regulation on Administration of Water Abstraction Permits and Water Resources Fee Collection (China State Council), http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2006-03/06/content_220023.htm (accessed May 21, 2017), art. 27.

  18. 18.

    China 2002 Water Law , art. 12.

  19. 19.

    Feng Sun, Zhongshan Yang, and Zhenfang Huang, “Challenges and Solutions of Urban Hydrology in Beijing ,” Water Resources Management 28 (2014): 3377–3389.

  20. 20.

    Ibid.

  21. 21.

    Ibid.

  22. 22.

    Ibid.

  23. 23.

    Ibid.

  24. 24.

    James E. Nickum and Yok-Shiu F. Lee, “Same Longitude, Different Latitudes: Institutional Change in Rrban Water in China , North and South,” in Environmental Governance in China, ed. Neil T. Carter and Arthur P.J. Mol (Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013), 84.

  25. 25.

    Min Jiang, Dan Cao, and Terry DeLacy, “Conflict and Coordination of Multiple Values of Water Resources: A Legal and Policy Analysis from a Perspective of Fresh Water Based Tourism in China ,” In Conference Proceeding of the International Conference on Drinking Water Safety, Security, and Sustainability, ed. Miaomiao Ye, David Z. Zhu, and Tuqiao Zhang (Hangzhou: Zhejiang University, 2011), 134.

  26. 26.

    World Bank, China : Air, Land and Water: Environmental Priorities for a New Millennium, Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2001, 66.

  27. 27.

    Ibid.

  28. 28.

    China Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) , 2012 Statistic Bulletin on China Water Activities, Beijing : China Water and Power Press, 2012.

  29. 29.

    Nickum and Lee, “Same Longitude, Different Latitudes”.

  30. 30.

    Robert V. Percival and Huiyu Zhao, “The Role of Civil Society in Environmental Governance in the United States and China ,” Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum 24 (2014): 142.

  31. 31.

    China Environmental Science Association is the first government-organised environmental NGO in China, set up in 1978.

  32. 32.

    Percival and Zhao, “The Role of Civil Society in Environmental Governance in the United States and China ”.

  33. 33.

    All-China Environment Federation, Summary Report on the Development of China’s Environmental Civil Society Organisations in 2008, Beijing : All-China Environment Federation, 2008, 1.

  34. 34.

    Ibid.

  35. 35.

    Ibid.

  36. 36.

    People’s Net, Water Pollution Map Made by Environmental NGOs to Disclosing Polluters, People’s Net, 2006, http://www.022net.com/2006/9-14/465750243044915.html (accessed September 25, 2008).

  37. 37.

    Tianyu Li, Environmental NGOs: Transition from Supporting Role to Leading Role, Journalist Observation, 2007, http://hxtc.china.cn/environment/2007-07/02/content_8467000.htm (accessed September 25, 2008).

  38. 38.

    Xinhua Net, The Premier Wen Jiabao Gave Instructions to Speed up the Assessment of the Nujiang River Project, 2005, http://www.china5e.com/news/water/200509/200509120049.html (accessed September 25, 2008).

  39. 39.

    Lin Zuo, “Protecting Nujiang River: No Winners Yet,” New Century Weekly, 2006, http://www.china5e.com/news/huanbao/200606/200606200051.html (accessed September 25, 2008).

  40. 40.

    Xueyong Zhan and Shuiyan Tang, “Political Opportunities, Resources Constraints and Policy Advocacy of Environmental NGOs in China ,” Public Administration 91, no.2 (2013): 381–399.

  41. 41.

    Austin Ramzy, “Wang Canfa, Heroes of the Environment,” Time, Special Double Issue, October, 2007, http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/10/heroes_of_the_environment.html (accessed September 25, 2008).

  42. 42.

    Ibid.

  43. 43.

    All-China Environment Federation, Summary Report on the Development of China’s Environmental Civil Society Organisations in 2008.

  44. 44.

    1998 Regulation on Registration and Management of Social Organisations (China State Council), http://www.lawinfochina.com/display.aspx?lib=law&id=5613&CGid= (accessed May 21, 2017), art. 9.

  45. 45.

    Percival and Huiyu Zhao, “The Role of Civil Society in Environmental Governance in the United States and China ”.

  46. 46.

    All-China Environment Federation, Summary Report on the Development of China’s Environmental Civil Society Organisations in 2008, 1.

  47. 47.

    Zhan and Tang, “Political Opportunities, Resources Constraints and Policy Advocacy of Environmental NGOs in China ”.

  48. 48.

    Economy, The River Runs Black, 305.

  49. 49.

    Zhan and Tang, “Political Opportunities, Resources Constraints and Policy Advocacy of Environmental NGOs in China ”.

  50. 50.

    Percival and Huiyu Zhao, “The Role of Civil Society in Environmental Governance in the United States and China ”.

  51. 51.

    Alex Gardner and Kathleen H. Bowmer, “Environmental Water Allocations and Their Governance,” in Managing Water for Australia : The Social and Institutional Challenges, ed. Karen Hussey and Stephen Dovers (Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing, 2007), 43–58.

  52. 52.

    Ibid.

  53. 53.

    Shucheng Wang, Resource-oriented Water Management: Towards Harmonious Coexistence between Man and Nature, 2nd ed. (Singapore: World Scientific Publishing; Beijing : WaterPower Press, 2006), 37.

  54. 54.

    Ibid.

  55. 55.

    Ibid.

  56. 56.

    Manhong Shen, The Studies of the Institutions of Water Rights Transactions: The Case Studies in China (Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press, 2006), 57.

  57. 57.

    Ibid.

  58. 58.

    China 2002 Water Law , art. 8.

  59. 59.

    Wang, Resource-oriented Water Management, 9–10, and 121–122.

  60. 60.

    Ibid.

  61. 61.

    2004 Trial Implementing Measure on Administration of Water Rights Transfer in the Yellow River Basin (Yellow River Conservancy Commission), http://www.yrcc.gov.cn/ziliao/zcfg/guizhang/200612/t20061222_9390.htm (accessed September 26, 2008).

  62. 62.

    Ibid.

  63. 63.

    The Framework of Establishing a Water Rights System (China Ministry of Water resources), 2005, http://www.mwr.gov.cn/tzgg/qt/20050117000000645755.aspx (accessed September 26, 2008), Section 2, 3–4.

  64. 64.

    Ibid.

  65. 65.

    Ibid.

  66. 66.

    Briefings on the State Council’s Opinions on Implementing the Strictest Water Resources Management System (China Ministry of Water Resources), 2012, http://www.china.org.cn/china/2012-02/17/content_24664350.htm (accessed 23 August, 2014).

  67. 67.

    The 12th Five Year Plan for Building a Water Saving Society (China Ministry of Water Resources), 2012, Beijing : Ministry of Water Resources.

  68. 68.

    2012 China State Council Opinions on the Implementation of the Strictest Water Resources Management System, State Council Document No.3, 2012, http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-02/16/content_2067664.htm (accessed October 24, 2016).

  69. 69.

    Ibid.

  70. 70.

    Ibid.

  71. 71.

    Ibid.

  72. 72.

    Workplan for Water Rights Piloting (China Ministry of Water Resources), 2014, Beijing : Ministry of Water Resources.

  73. 73.

    2016 Provisional Measures on Administration of Water Rights Trading (China Ministry of Water Resources), http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2016-05/22/content_5075679.htm (accessed May 27, 2017), art. 2.

  74. 74.

    Ibid, art. 3.

  75. 75.

    Ibid, art. 30.

References

  • Alford, W. P., & Shen, Y. (1997). Limits of the law in addressing China’s environmental dilemma. Stanford Environment Law Journal, 16, 125–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • All-China Environment Federation. (2008). Summary Report on the Development of China’s Environmental Civil Society Organisations in 2008. Beijing: All-China Environment Federation, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australia China Environment Development Program. (2006). Report on the Development of Water Rights and Trading in the People’s Republic of China. Canberra: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyer, S. (2006). Environmental law and policy in the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Journal of International Law, 5(1), 185–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • China Ministry of Water Resources (MWR). (2012). Statistic bulletin on China water activities. Beijing: China Water and Power Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Economy, E. C. (2004). The river runs black: The environmental challenge to China’s future. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, A., & Bowmer, K. H. (2007). Environmental water allocations and their governance. In K. Hussey & S. Dovers (Ed.), Managing water for Australia: The social and institutional challenges (pp. 43–58). Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, M., Cao, D., & DeLacy, T. (2011). Conflict and coordination of multiple values of water resources: A legal and policy analysis from a perspective of fresh water based tourism in China. In M. Ye, D. Z. Zhu, & T. Zhang (Ed.), Conference proceeding of the international conference on drinking water safety, security, and sustainability (pp. 125–138). Hangzhou: Zhejiang University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, T. (2007). Environmental NGOs: Transition from supporting role to leading role. Journalist Observation. http://hxtc.china.cn/environment/2007-07/02/content_8467000.htm. Accessed 25 Sept 2008.

  • Nickum, J. E., & Lee, Y.-S. F. (2013). Same longitude, different latitudes: Institutional change in urban water in China, North and South. In N. T. Carter & A. P. J. Mol (Ed.), Environmental governance in China (pp. 83–99). Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • People’s Net. (2006). Water pollution map made by environmental NGOs to disclosing polluters. People’s Net. http://www.022net.com/2006/9-14/465750243044915.html. Accessed 25 Sept 2008.

  • Percival, R. V., & Zhao, H. (2014). The role of civil society in environmental governance in the United States and China. Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum, 24, 141–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramzy, A. (2007, October). Wang Canfa, Heroes of the environment. Time, Special Double Issue. http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/10/heroes_of_the_environment.html. Accessed 25 Sept 2008.

  • Shen, M. (2006). The studies of the institutions of water rights transactions: The case studies in China. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, F., Yang, Z., & Huang, Z. (2014). Challenges and solutions of urban hydrology in Beijing. Water Resources Management, 28, 3377–3389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S. (2006). Resource-oriented water management: Towards harmonious coexistence between man and nature (2nd ed.). Singapore/Beijing: WaterPower Press/World Scientific Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2001). China: Air, land and water: Environmental priorities for a new millennium. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wouters, P., Hu, D., Zhang, J., Dan Tarlock, A., & Andrews-Speed, P. (2004). The new development of water law in China. University of Denver Water Law Review, 7, 243–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xinhua Net. (2005). The premier Wen Jiabao gave instructions to speed up the assessment of the Nujiang River Project. Xinhua Net. http://www.china5e.com/news/water/200509/200509120049.html. Accessed 25 Sept 2008.

  • Zhan, X., & Tang, S. (2013). Political opportunities, resources constraints and policy advocacy of environmental NGOs in China. Public Administration, 91(2), 381–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo, L. (2006). Protecting Nujiang River: No Winners Yet. New Century Weekly. http://www.china5e.com/news/huanbao/200606/200606200051.html. Accessed 25 Sept 2008.

Legal and Policy Sources

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Business, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Min Jiang

Authors
  1. Min Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jiang, M. (2018). China’s Water Law and Policy Reform: How Far Have We Travelled?. In: Towards Tradable Water Rights. Global Issues in Water Policy, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67087-4_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation