China’s Supreme People’s Court releases guidance about application of foreign law when adjudicating foreign-related civil cases; a Hong Kong court hears final arguments in the trial of 16 pro-democracy activists charged with violating the 2020 National Security Law by holding an unofficial primary election; a court jails the head of Japanese non-profit organization for brokering organ transplants overseas for Japanese in need of transplants; South Korea’s conservative president vetoes more legislation approved by the opposition-controlled National Assembly; Taiwan accuses ten persons of spying for China, including several active-duty military personnel.

Chinese lawyer and writer Guo Feixiong is reported to be seriously ill in prison after hunger striking; Hong Kong police arrest six more suspects in connection with alleged fraud at the Dubai-based cryptocurrency trading platform JPEX; Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates changes its name to Smile-Up and says it will compensate victims of sexual abuse by its late founder; South Korea’s Constitutional Court again upholds the country’s male-only military conscription system; Taiwan investigates four local companies suspected of helping China's Huawei Technologies to build semiconductor facilities.

China is expected to decide soon whether to arrest a Japanese businessman detained since March on suspicion of espionage; a Hong Kong district court gives prison terms to six more persons convicted of participating in a particularly violent clash with police in November 2019; Japan’s Children and Family Agency publishes a report about its efforts to initiate mandatory background checks for adults who work closely with children; South Korea’s National Assembly votes to lift opposition leader Lee Jae-mung’s immunity to arrest as prosecutors investigate corruption allegations; Taiwan’s Executive Yuan advances a new minimum wage scheme.

Legal experts express concern over proposed revisions to China’s Public Security Administrative Punishments Law; a Hong Kong court says the government has a constitutional duty to provide a framework for legal recognition of same-sex relationships; Japan’s Supreme Court orders Okinawa prefecture to approve a central government plan to relocate a US military base on the island; South Korean medical associations challenge a new law requiring surveillance cameras in operating rooms; a Taiwan court again quashes the efforts of Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je to bring criminal defamation charges against US author Ethan Gutmann.

China bans imports of Japanese seafood as Japan begins the slow release of wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean; Hong Kong’s High Court agrees to rehear the government’s arguments for a civil injunction against the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong”; Japanese legislators consider revising special laws that govern the former state monopoly telecoms company NTT; South Korea considers allowing military conscripts to serve in the police force in response to public concerns about crime; a Japanese city assemblyman and his Taiwanese partner register their marriage in Taiwan.

China says that 90% of criminal cases are being disposed of through its new guilty plea system; Hong Kong’s High Court rejects the government’s application for an injunction against the protest song Glory to Hong Kong; the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights makes its first official visit to Japan; South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturns a parliamentary effort to impeach the interior minister for crowd control failures that resulted in 159 deaths last year; Taiwan revises its Gender Equity Education Act to better protect sexual harassment victims in education settings.

China issues regulations for generative artificial intelligence before its leading tech companies roll out their products; Hong Kong expands prosecutors’ powers to challenge acquittals in national security cases; Japan’s Supreme Court says it is unlawful to restrict a transgender employee’s use of office bathrooms; South Korea’s Supreme Court finalizes prison terms for tech company executives who leaked technology to Chinese companies; Taiwan responds to #MeToo accusations by approving tougher penalties for persons who use their position or power to sexually harass others.

China’s Supreme Court releases 10 typical cases related to domestic violence; a Hong Kong court holds a hearing on the government’s request for an injunction to ban the protest song Glory to Hong Kong; Japan raises the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 and bars “photo voyeurism”; South Korea’s Supreme Court rules partially for workers in two lawsuits in which Hyundai Motor seeks compensation from workers who went on strike; Taiwan’s Constitutional Court says criminal defamation requires at least gross negligence.

The CEDAW Committee expresses concern about harassment of women human rights defenders in China; Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance says Jimmy Lai can and will get a fair trial; the lower house of Japan’s legislature approves major revisions to the Penal Code for sexual offenses; the South Korean legislature fails to override a presidential veto of the controversial Nursing Act; Taiwan’s president nominates four candidates to fill upcoming vacancies on the Constitutional Court.