Relevant legal provisions and judicial interpretations:
Criminal procedure law
Article 186 After the public prosecutor reads out the indictment in court, the defendant and the victim may make statements about the crimes charged in the indictment, and the public prosecutor may interrogate the defendant.
The victim, plaintiff, defender and agent ad litem of an incidental civil action may, with the permission of the presiding judge, put questions to the defendant.
The judge can interrogate the defendant.
Article 189 When a witness testifies, the judge shall inform him of the legal responsibilities he should bear for truthfully providing testimony and intentionally perjury or concealing criminal evidence. Public prosecutors, parties, defenders and agents ad litem may, with the permission of the presiding judge, put questions to witnesses and expert witnesses. When the presiding judge thinks that the content of the question is irrelevant to the case, he shall stop it.
A judge may question witnesses and expert witnesses.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate's Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of the Criminal Procedure Law in the Review of Arrest and Public Prosecution.
4. Questions that should be paid attention to when interrogating defendants and witnesses/Dazhou lawyer/