China's Arbitration Law Reform Gets Its First English Monograph
China amended its Arbitration Law in 2025 — the first substantial reform to the framework governing commercial arbitration in the country in decades. For arbitration practitioners and companies doing business with Chinese counterparties, that's not a small development. And until now, there hasn't been an English-language book working through what it actually means.
New Arbitration Law in China, by Yifei Lin (Springer), fills that gap — the first English-language monograph to interpret China's newly amended Arbitration Law. It combines theoretical interpretation with practical case studies, working through the legislative intent and doctrinal foundations behind the new provisions, as well as how they're actually being interpreted and applied.
The book moves through the full arbitration lifecycle under the new law: arbitration institutions, the arbitration agreement itself, procedure, the composition of arbitral tribunals, arbitral awards, and the grounds for setting an award aside. A dedicated chapter addresses arbitration involving foreign elements and international arbitration — exactly the terrain where most cross-border disputes involving Chinese parties actually play out.
What makes it more than a straight commentary is the comparative lens: Lin incorporates insights from international arbitration practice throughout, and grounds the analysis in recent judicial cases and scholarly perspectives from China's evolving arbitration system — not just the bare text of the statute.
For arbitration practitioners, in-house counsel handling China-facing disputes, and academics tracking the modernization of China's legal system, this is the reference that didn't exist in English until now.
Q&A
Q: What makes this book significant?
A: It's the first English-language monograph interpreting China's Arbitration Law as amended in 2025.
Q: What does the book cover?
A: The full arbitration lifecycle under the new law — institutions, agreements, procedure, tribunals, awards, and setting aside awards — plus arbitration involving foreign elements.
Q: Does it include case law?
A: Yes — it draws on major recent judicial developments and scholarly perspectives from China's arbitration system.
Q: How does it compare to international arbitration practice?
A: The book incorporates comparative insights from international arbitration throughout, not just Chinese domestic practice.
Q: Who should read this?
A: Arbitration practitioners, in-house counsel handling China-related disputes, academics, and judges.