In early 2003, the Supreme People's Court issued a new judicial interpretation, stating that "if the perpetrator does not know that the other party is a young girl under the age of 14, and the two parties have sexual relations voluntarily, without causing serious consequences, and the circumstances are significantly minor, it is not considered a crime." The long-familiar legal interpretation is that "as long as the perpetrator has sexual relations with a young girl under the age of 14, regardless of whether the real age of the other party is known and whether the other party is willing, the punishment is heavier according to the crime of rape." The gap between the two is self-evident, and there is a fierce debate between the academic and legal circles. It is understood that this judicial interpretation originated from a reply from the Supreme Court to the Liaoning Provincial High People's Court, and the Liaoning Higher People's Court's request for instructions was for a case that caused embarrassment to the judges in the Lishan District of Anshan City.
