How did Shen Jiaben and Wu Tingfang attempt to reform Chinese law in the late Qing period?

During the late Qing period, officials Shen Jiaben and Wu Tingfang spearheaded efforts to modernize the Chinese legal system in response to the extraterritoriality imposed by Western powers, which allowed foreign nationals to be tried under their own laws rather than Chinese law.1

To address Western concerns while preserving Chinese values, Shen and Wu conducted extensive surveys of the world’s most advanced legal systems. Their objective was to modify Chinese law so that it would align with generally accepted international principles and procedures, thereby removing the justification for foreign legal jurisdiction within China. These efforts were part of a broader movement toward modernization and constitutionalism during the final years of the Qing dynasty, as the government sought to reclaim rights held by foreigners and stabilize the state amidst mounting internal and external pressures.12