Crime patterns in China and offender characteristics parallel those of western societies, but the rate of crime is still very low. This indicates that a major increase in crime is not necessarily an outcome of development where cultural and social history and philosophy have established strong prevention roots. Recent literature on changes occurring in China is reviewed according to theoretical perspectives (Durkheimian Modernization, Marxist, and Victimological) that link development and crime. Chinese crime prevention programs and policies are discussed and evaluated, based on individual and systemic correlates of crime and theoretical needs for prevention. Chinese culture and tradition are seen as preventive mechanisms in and of themselves, mechanisms that need to be reinforced as China experiences major social change. The author concludes that China is at an important crossroads relative to its development and the potential for increasing crime and that effective crime prevention can occur only when the philosophy is one of collective responsibility and not one of castigating blame. 51 references