If you know where and how to look, there is a wide range of publicly available information in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to support investigative research. In their article “China: Trends and Developments,” published in the Chambers International Fraud & Asset Tracing Global Practice Guide 2025, Greg Hallahan, Amanda Rasmussen, and Kristine Kwok note that the PRC’s data privacy and security rules impact access, but:

• Disclosures of shareholders of a company in the PRC are usually accessible, and often more transparent than even some US states (such as New York and California).
• It is possible to search for company equity holdings held by an individual, which is not possible in the Hong Kong SAR.
• It is also possible to search for local and foreign investments made by a PRC company, information not disclosed in many other corporate registries.
• Millions of commercial disputes litigated at all levels of the courts nationwide are made public each year, and include details of the parties, judgments and an explanation for a decision.
• The PRC does not have a nationwide personal bankruptcy system, but lists of enforcement orders and penalties help to determine the financial status of individuals and entities.
• Insightful commentary on the reputation and background of many companies and individuals can be found in domestic press reports, industry forums, and a wide range of informal media (blogs, bulletin boards, and social media messaging platforms).

To access the full Chambers International Fraud & Asset Tracing Global Practice Guide 2025, click here.

For support with navigating public domain information in the PRC, reach out to Greg Hallahan, Amanda Rasmussen, and Kristine Kwok.