Read before signing, do not sign for someone else, and never sign a blank page
A signature can bind you. “I did not read it” or “I thought it was something else” is rarely a reliable escape. Read first, ask questions, and keep a copy. Do not sign blank paper or casually sign for someone else; mark the purpose on identity-card copies. Electronic signatures and facial confirmation can also have legal effect.
What it takes
A few minutes to read a contract, loan acknowledgment, guarantee, or employment document from beginning to end. Ask about anything unclear and keep a photograph or copy. Taking that time in front of the other person can feel awkward.
What you may gain
Under China’s Civil Code, lawfully formed contracts are protected and bind the parties. Parties must perform their obligations in full as agreed. Failure to read is generally a poor basis for avoiding those obligations. Refusing to sign an obligation you do not intend to take on helps prevent someone else’s debt or liability becoming yours.
Context & considerations
Avoiding substitute signatures and blank pages, and marking the purpose on ID copies, are practical precautions rather than rules supported here by a separate official document. Their shared aim is to prevent your signature or identification being incorporated into a binding transaction you did not intend. Electronic execution and face-based confirmation should also be treated seriously rather than as mere clicks.
Research & references
National People’s Congress (2020). Civil Code, Articles 465 and 509. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml.