The number of foreign offenders receiving legal aid has increased since a law was amended last year requiring the government to provide free help to foreign criminals who face life sentences or the death penalty.

According to the Ministry of Justice, legal aid authorities handled more than 800 cases involving foreign criminals last year after the law took effect in January 2013, a 20 percent increase from the year before.

"That more foreigners are staying in China and the amended Criminal Procedure Law has enlarged the scope of our legal services to foreign defendants has contributed to the sharp increase in such cases," said Sang Ning, deputy director of the ministry's legal aid center.