Experts say prevention is as important as punishment

China should pay greater attention to the prevention of domestic violence, rather than punishment, and the penalties should be comparable with measures in Western countries, judges and lawyers said.

Traditionally, Chinese law has been concerned with the punishment for violent domestic assault, not preventing the act itself, according to Liu Li, a judge at the Aoyuncun court, which is affiliated with the Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court.

In some Western countries, including the United States, law enforcement workers can provide victims of domestic violence with assistance and arrange preventative measures when asked, said Liu, who handled a high-profile dispute between Li Yang, the well-known founder of the "Crazy English" language school, and his ex-wife, Kim Lee, a US national.