Local Police Mediation in China – The Past, Present, and Future

China’s local police have been focusing on applying mediation as the main means to resolve disputes between citizens. Detailed studies in the following area are lacking: how did traditional mediation succeed in finding a place in the modern Chinese police law enforcement system? What should be done to improve the contemporary Chinese police mediation in light of political and social environments? Through research into the histories of the mediation and the police force, this article argues that mediation in China is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Mediation had been enacted as a main public security policy at the very emerging of modern police in China. In contemporary China, a diversified dispute resolution mechanism including police mediation has been established to tackle disputes for social governance. Meanwhile, Fengqiao Model in the new era is significantly influencing dispute resolution principles. Police mediation features the people-centered approach, justice, and integration of laws and morals. To tackle the challenges, ideology of officers, institutionalization of mediation, capacity building and digital transformation are the key fields to be enhanced.