Chinese public administration reforms

China’s public administration system has experienced fundamental transformations and modernization since the beginning of its reform and opening up in 1978. Western models of public administration, such as modern civil service and New Public Management, have penetrated the system in varying ways and degrees. Despite that, public administration reforms in China have fully reflected the nature and structure of its political system and tended to handle governance challenges through autonomous learning and adaptation. This chapter discusses China’s major reforms before and after 2012, the reform contexts, key challenges, and trends of development. The chapter sheds light on why the past path of reforms was adopted, and what factors may shape the future evolutionary trajectory of China’s public administration. It also provides a vantage point to understand the differences and consistencies between the western and the Chinese public administration systems.