1. Relevant Regulations
Chinese Patent Law Implementing Regulations (Article 22)
The Chinese Patent Law Implementing Regulations state:
“Dependent claims can only cite preceding claims. Multiple dependent claims that cite two or more preceding claims can only do so alternatively and cannot serve as the basis for another multiple dependent claim.”
Chinese Patent Examination Guidelines (Part 2, Chapter 2, Section 3.3.2)
The Chinese Patent Examination Guidelines specify:
“Multiple dependent claims that cite two or more preceding claims can only cite them alternatively and cannot serve as the basis for another multiple dependent claim. This means that subsequent multiple dependent claims cannot cite preceding multiple dependent claims.”
2. Summary Conclusion
China allows multiple dependent claims but, in principle, does not permit multiple references to multiple claims, with the following two exceptions:
a) Independent Claim Related Type
Multiple references to multiple claims are permitted if the claims are independent claims citing preceding multiple dependent claims.
b) Single Dependent Claim Intervening Type
Multiple references to multiple claims are allowed if they cite a preceding single dependent claim, which further cites preceding multiple dependent claims.