Legal basis: Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).
Paragraph 1 of Article 14: The people's courts, people's procuratorates and public security organs shall protect the right to defense and other litigation rights of criminal suspects, defendants and other participants in litigation according to law.
Article 35 Paragraph 1 If a criminal suspect or defendant fails to appoint a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he or his near relatives may apply to a legal aid institution. To meet the conditions of legal aid, legal aid institutions shall appoint lawyers to defend them.