Zhao Wanping’s animal welfare proposals in 2026
Date published: July 6, 2026
In March 2026, during the annual Two Sessions meetings, Zhao Wanping, a National People’s Congress representative and vice president of the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, raised animal-protection issues for the eighth time since 2017. According to Animal-Friendly.co’s report, Zhao argued that China’s pet population has reached around 126 million and that declining public tolerance of animal abuse reflects progress in social civilization. He also noted that China’s current animal-protection framework is centered mainly on the Wildlife Protection Law and lacks strict definition, prevention, management, and punishment mechanisms for animal abuse.
In 2026, Zhao called for animal abuse to be brought within the scope of Criminal Law regulation, and proposed establishing an animal procuratorial mechanism. In contrast to his 2025 formal NPC deputy motion for a Companion Animal Protection and Management Law, the report describes Zhao’s 2026 animal-protection proposals in terms of suggestions, highlighting especially a suggestion to establish such a procuratorial mechanism, rather than clearly identifying them as formal NPC deputy motions or bills.
Importantly, Zhao linked the issue to minors’ protection, arguing that animal abuse can also harm children who witness it by weakening empathy, respect for life, and sensitivity to cruelty, and by fostering violent tendencies. He urged procuratorial organs to coordinate with public security, urban management, agriculture and rural affairs, market regulation, cyberspace and other authorities, while also working with education departments and schools to build an enforcement and education framework centered on respect for life and the protection of minors.
Sources
– 吳昱賢, 動物友善網 / Animal-Friendly.co, “中國動物保護立法迢遙長路 人大代表趙皖平八度提案 籲虐待動物入刑” [China’s long road toward animal-protection legislation: NPC deputy Zhao Wanping makes his eighth proposal, calling for animal abuse to be criminalized], March 12, 2026.