  This paper explores the evolution of China's Personal Information Protection
Law (PIPL) and situates it within the context of global data protection
development. It draws inspiration from the theory of 'Brussels Effect' and
provides a critical account of its application in non-Western jurisdictions,
taking China as a prime example. Our objective is not to provide a comparative
commentary on China's legal development but to illuminate the intricate
dynamics between the Chinese law and the EU's GDPR. We argue that the
trajectory of China's Personal Information Protection Law calls into question
the applicability of the Brussels Effect: while the GDPR's imprint on the PIPL
is evident, a deeper analysis unveils China's nuanced, non-linear adoption that
diverges from many assumptions of the Brussels Effect and similar theories. The
evolution of the GDPR-inspired PIPL is not as a straightforward outcome of the
Brussels Effect but as a nuanced, intricate interplay of external influence and
domestic dynamics. We introduce a complementary theory of 'gravity assist',
which portrays China's strategic instrumentalisation of the GDPR as a template
to shape its unique data protection landscape. Our theoretical framework
highlights how China navigates through a patchwork of internal considerations,
international standards, and strategic choices, ultimately sculpting a data
protection regime that has a similar appearance to the GDPR but aligns with its
distinct political, cultural and legal landscape. With a detailed historical
and policy analysis of the PIPL, coupled with reasonable speculations on its
future avenues, our analysis presents a pragmatic, culturally congruent
approach to legal development in China. It signals a trajectory that, while
potentially converging at a principled level, is likely to diverge
significantly in practice [...]
