中国法律依法保护外国籍犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的诉讼权利。同时，中国法律也为外籍嫌疑人和被告人提供了特别的权利保障，本篇为中国涉外刑事辩护实务系列第四篇，将着重介绍特别权利保护中最重要的使领馆保护权和获得翻译帮助权。

　　一、获得使领馆保护的权利

　　作为具有外籍身份的犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，其本人和家属通常关心使领馆在其涉案后能做些什么。下文将根据中国法律规定，梳理驻华使领馆对其涉案国民提供的保护方式和做法。

　　（一）使领馆有权获悉案件情况

　　根据中国法律规定，公安机关、人民法院对外国籍当事人依法采取的强制措施的相关情况应当通知其所属国驻华使领馆，如外国籍当事人的姓名、性别、入境时间、护照或者证件号码、涉嫌犯罪的主要事实、已采取的强制措施及法律依据等。此外，人民法院也应当将开庭的时间、地点、是否公开审理，宣判的时间、地点等情况，通知被告人国籍国的驻华使领馆。

　　（二）使领馆提供领事协助

　　使领馆能够为涉案国民提供的帮助，即领事协助，主要包括以下内容：（1）帮助其联系亲属、朋友；（2）作为适格主体，为其委托律师；（3）领馆可以探视本国公民；（4）努力保障其基本权利，如确保其身体健康、有必要的药品、在羁押场所有必要资金等。美国国务院官网显示其对在海外被捕的美国公民可提供以下领事协助（见下图）。[1]

　　

　　实践中，各国使领馆通常会定期（如每月一次）安排对因在中国涉嫌犯罪而被羁押的本国公民的探视，在探视中，领馆工作人员主要关注被羁押人员的生活及健康状况，并可能给予其适当的生活费用补助。

　　（三）获得使领馆帮助的方式

　　《刑诉法解释》明确了在押外国籍被告人享有与其国籍国驻华使领馆联系的权利。各国使领馆的官网上一般会写明各个大使馆、领事馆的地址、联系方式等。另外，部分国家，如美国，还会在其驻华大使馆和领事馆官网上专门设有针对被捕美国公民的紧急帮助服务，其中会提供国内外联系的电话，地址，以及美国律所在中国的办事处或可以提供英文服务的中国律师事务所的名单等。[2]（见下图1）英国驻华大使馆官网也同样提供了针对其公民在中国被捕后的联系方式。[3]（见图2）

　　

　　（图1）

　　

　　（图2）

　　如前所述，在中国涉嫌刑事案件时，外国籍当事人（家属）可以通过与其国籍国驻华使领馆联系，获取使领馆的帮助。但值得注意的是，外国籍当事人同时也享有拒绝其国籍国驻华使领馆探视的权利。

　　（四）获取保护同时的注意事项

　　在获取使领馆保护和帮助的同时，外国籍当事人需要尊重并遵守中国的法律法规。外国籍当事人只能在中国法律或中国缔结、加入的条约、协定要求的限度内请求使领馆帮助，其国籍国使领馆不能通过其他手段从中国看守所、监狱释放某个本国公民，也不能实施在法庭上代表某个公民作有罪或者无罪的陈述等可能干扰司法公正，损害中国刑事司法国家主权的行为。

　　二、获得翻译帮助权

　　根据中国法律的规定，涉嫌刑事犯罪的外国籍当事人享有获得翻译帮助的权利。犯罪嫌疑人或被告人不通晓中国语言、文字的，公安机关、检察院办理、人民法院审理涉外刑事案件时，都应当为外国籍当事人提供翻译。在通晓中国语言、文字，不需要翻译的外国籍当事人本人出具书面声明后，办案机关可以不提供翻译。外国籍当事人也享有获得司法文书外文译本的权利。

　　获得翻译帮助的权利是外国籍当事人行使其他诉讼权利的基础，在不使用其通晓的语言、文字进行办案的情况下，外国籍当事人的很多权利都无法保障。由于法律语言具有极强的专业性，外国籍当事人及家属可以优先考虑聘请通晓外语，并可以将外语作为工作语言的律师。通晓外语的律师在涉外刑事案件中优势，具体表现为：

　　首先，节约金钱成本，提升沟通效率。熟练运用外语的律师可以与外籍当事人进行有效沟通，免去了当事人和家属另行聘请翻译人员的经济成本。同时，掌握外语的律师介入案件也可以防止翻译人员因不熟悉法律用语，尤其是不熟悉刑事案件中部分专业术语，而造成的无法准确表达各方意思的情况。

　　其次，节约时间成本，省去额外程序。面对外籍嫌疑人，如果律师开展工作时不能用到当事人本国语言，则在很多程序中，如会见当事人时，需要翻译人员陪同。但是，每次会见前需要协调律师和翻译人员各自的时间安排，可能会在一定程度上增加沟通和时间成本。委托擅长外语的律师，可以快速有效开展工作。同时，专业涉外律师一般有海外留学和工作的背景，了解不同法律文化，有利于与当事人有效沟通。

　　最后，有利于促进外籍当事人与家属之间的交流与沟通。由于外籍当事人在押期间，家属无法直接探望在押人员，另外，大部分外籍当事人的家属也身处中国境外，其彼此之间通常非常挂念。基于委托关系，通晓外语的律师可以搭建起外籍当事人与家属之间沟通的桥梁，帮助其相互转达彼此的思念或者其他与案件无关的家长里短。

　　本文通过提示外国籍当事人其依法享有的获得使领馆保护和获得翻译帮助的特别权利保护，避免其因“不知情”、“不了解”而错过最佳的捍卫合法权益的机会。

　　Special Litigation Rights of Foreign Suspects and Defendants

　　-China’s Foreign-related Criminal Defense Practice(Part IV)

　　In accordance with Chinese law,the litigation rights of foreign criminal suspects or defendants are duly protected.Simultaneously,Chinese law affords special safeguards for the rights of foreign suspects and defendants.This article focuses on the most crucial aspects of special rights protection,namely,the right to obtain embassy and consular protection and the right to obtain translation assistance.

　　Ⅰ.Right to Obtain Embassy and Consular Protection

　　After foreign nationals are suspected of committing crimes in China,they and their family members are usually concerned about what the Embassy or Consulate of their country of nationality can do for them.The following is an overview of the protection provided by embassies and consulates in China to their nationals involved in the criminal cases.

　　1.1 Right to be Informed of Case Information

　　According to the provisions of Chinese law,law enforcement agencies and the court are obligated to notify the suspects and defendants’embassies or consulates about information of the compulsory measures taken in accordance with the law.This notification includes details such as the foreigners’name,gender,entry time,passport or other ID number,the primary facts of the alleged crime,the compulsory measures already taken,and the legal basis of the alleged crime,etc..

　　Additionally,the court shall also inform the consulate of the foreign defendant’s country about the trial date,location,whether the trial is open to the public,the verdict date and location.

　　1.2 Consular Assistance

　　The consular assistance that embassies and consulates can provide to their nationals who are suspected to committed crimes in China includes the following contents:

　　1.helping them contact relatives and friends;

　　2.appointing an attorney for them as a competent entity;

　　3.visiting nationals regularly;

　　4.making efforts to protect their basic rights,such as ensuring their welfare and wellbeing,necessary medicines,and necessary funds in detention facilities,etc.

　　The official website of the U.S.Department of State lists the following consular assistance,which can be provided to U.S.citizens arrested overseas(see picture below).[4]

　　

　　In practice,embassies and consulates of various countries usually arrange regular visits(such as once a month)to their citizens who are detained on suspicion of committing crimes in China.During the visits,they mainly pay attention to the living and health conditions of their citizens and may provide them with appropriate subsidies for living expenses.

　　1.3 Ways to Obtain Help from the Embassy or Consulate

　　Interpretation by the Supreme People’s Court Regarding the Application of the Criminal Procedure Law of PRC clarifies that detained foreign defendants have the right to contact the embassy or consulate of their country of nationality.The official websites of embassies and consulates of various countries generally state their addresses and contact information.

　　In addition,some countries,such as the United States,also have emergency assistance service for arrested U.S.citizens on the websites of U.S.Embassy&Consulates in China.The webpage of emergency assistance provides phone numbers and addresses for U.S.citizens that are both inside and outside of China to contact,as well as lists of U.S.law firms with offices in China and Chinese law firms that can provide English-language services,etc.(See picture below).[5]

　　

　　The official website of the British Embassy in China also provides contact information for its citizens after they are arrested in China(See picture below).[6]

　　

　　As mentioned above,when suspected of being involved in a criminal case in China,foreigners(or their family members)are able to contact the embassy or consulate of their country of nationality to obtain assistance.However,it is worth noting that foreigners also have the right to refuse visits from the embassy or consulate of their country of nationality in China.

　　1.4 Notices When Seeking Protection of Consular Assistance

　　While seeking protection and assistance from the embassies and consulates,foreign nationals need to respect and abide by Chinese laws and regulations.Foreign individuals can only request assistance from the embassy and consulate within the scope of Chinese laws or treaties and agreements concluded or acceded to by China.

　　The embassy or consulate of foreign suspects or defendants’country of nationality cannot use other measures to release a citizen of the country from a Chinese detention center or prison.Besides,the embassy or consulate cannot make guilty or innocent statements on behalf of a citizen in court,which may interfere with judicial fairness and damage China's national sovereignty in criminal justice.

　　II.Right to Obtain Translator Assistance

　　Under Chinese law,foreign individuals suspected of committing criminal offenses have the right to obtain translator assistance.If a criminal suspect or defendant is not proficient in the Chinese language,the public security organs,procuratorates,and people’s courts must provide translators for foreigners when handling foreign-related criminal cases.Where a person of foreign nationality who skilled at Chinese language does not need a translator to issue a written statement,the organ handling the case may not provide a translator.Individuals of foreign nationality also have the right to receive translation version of judicial documents.

　　The right to obtain translator assistance is the basis for foreigners to exercise other litigation rights.Many of the rights of foreign nationals cannot be safeguarded without the use of a language or script that they know well in the conduct of their case.Since legal terminology is extremely professional,foreigners and their families are encouraged to primarily consider engaging a lawyer who is proficient in foreign languages and can use foreign languages as working language.The specific advantages of lawyers who are proficient in foreign languages in foreign-related criminal cases are as follows:

　　Firstly,it saves costs and improves communication efficiency.Lawyers who are proficient in foreign languages can communicate effectively with foreign clients,eliminating the financial cost of hiring translators for clients and their families.At the same time,the representation of lawyers who master foreign languages can also prevent translators from being unable to accurately express the meaning of the parties due to their unfamiliarity with the specialized legal terminology,especially some professional terms used in criminal cases.

　　Secondly,it saves time and eliminates additional procedures.When facing foreign suspects,if the lawyer cannot use the native language of that foreign suspects when conducting work,he or she will need to be accompanied by a translator during many procedures,such as when meeting with the suspect.However,the time schedules of lawyers and translators need to be coordinated before each meeting,which may increase communication and time costs to a certain extent.

　　Finally,it is conducive to promoting communication between foreign individuals in custody and their families.During the period of detention,family members are unable to visit the detained individuals directly.Moreover,the majority of foreign individuals in custody have family members residing outside of China.Foreigners who are suspected of committing crimes and their families usually miss each other very much,especially during the Christmas,New Year,etc..Based on client-attorney relationship,lawyers proficient in foreign languages can serve as a bridge for communication between foreign individuals in custody and their families,assisting in conveying thoughts,affection,or other non-case-related matters between them.

　　Appointing a lawyer who specializes in foreign languages can start working timely and effectively.At the same time,professional foreign-related lawyers generally have overseas study and work experience and understand different legal cultures,which is conducive to effective communication with clients.

　　This article reminds foreigners of their special rights by Chinese law to obtain protection from embassies and consulates and to obtain translator assistance,to prevent them from missing the best opportunity to defend their legitimate rights and interests due to lack of knowledge about those special rights protection.

　　注释：

　　[1]参见：https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/arrest-detention.html

　　[2]参见：https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/services/#arrest

　　[3]参见：https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-beijing

　　[4]See:https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/arrest-detention.html

　　[5]See:https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/services/#arrest

　　[6]See:https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-beijing