Legal basis: Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).
Article 40 From the date when the people's procuratorate examines and prosecutes a case, the defense lawyer may consult, extract and copy the case file. Other defenders may also consult, extract and copy the above materials with the permission of the people's court or the people's procuratorate.
Article 43 With the consent of witnesses or other relevant units and individuals, defense lawyers may collect materials related to this case from them, or apply to the people's procuratorate or the people's court to collect and obtain evidence, or apply to the people's court to notify witnesses to testify in court. With the permission of the people's procuratorate or the people's court, and with the consent of the victim or his close relatives or witnesses provided by the victim, the defense lawyer may collect materials related to the case from them.
Article 54 People's courts, people's procuratorates and public security organs have the right to collect and obtain evidence from relevant units and individuals. The relevant units and individuals shall truthfully provide evidence. Evidence materials such as physical evidence, documentary evidence, audio-visual materials and electronic data collected by administrative organs in the process of administrative law enforcement and case investigation can be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. Evidence involving state secrets, commercial secrets and personal privacy shall be kept confidential. Whoever forges, conceals or destroys evidence, and whoever the evidence belongs to, will be investigated by law.