Which serious crimes were punishable by the death penalty under Chinese criminal law?

Under Chinese criminal law, the death penalty is reserved for serious offenses handled by the courts. While the law has historically included a broad range of capital offenses—with estimates in the early 21st century citing more than 50 to approximately 70 different crimes—the vast majority of death sentences are imposed for common violent and property crimes.12

These include:
* Violent crimes: Such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault.1
* Property crimes: Including theft.1
* Drug-related offenses: There has been an increasing number of death sentences for these crimes since the 1990s.1
* White-collar crimes: A smaller number of high-publicity cases have involved the death penalty for offenses such as embezzlement.1

It is important to note that the application of these laws often involves significant official discretion. Chinese law frequently uses general terms like "serious" or "very serious" to describe criminal acts, leaving the specific interpretation and the determination of whether an act falls under criminal law or administrative punishment to the officials administering the case.3