Book excerpt: This volume of the China Legal Development Yearbook marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. Various aspects of law and regulation that are giving shape to China’s legal system are examined in this volume of the Yearbook. The editors present an informative and comprehensive volume, covering both general topics such as administrative law reform, as well as analysing a number specific areas of interest such as military law and the new food safety regime. 2009 was also a year when the full impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) was felt in China’s economy and society. Some of the chapters in this volume reflect upon aspects of these challenges with chapters on legislative responses to social instability and crime as well as on economic reform.