The Chinese government intends to modify its public security law. From now on, comments, clothing and symbols that “damage” or could “harm the national spirit” could be followed by condemnations.
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From our correspondent in China,
Decidedly, the Chinese people are extremely sensitive and the Communist Party intends to attack anything that could ” hurt national sentiments “. This draft law is currently subject to public consultation on the website of the National People’s Assembly. It sparked a lot of reactions on social media.
Lawyers in particular are concerned about the risks of ” arbitrary drifts » linked to the vagueness of certain paragraphs. The proposed law aims to criminalize anything that could harm the ” feeling of the country » or to “ the national spirit “, notions that are both vague and very encompassing, according to experts and bloggers, who express their fears vis-à-vis censorship.
Who will confirm what belongs to “ the spirit of the Chinese nation » ? And according to what procedure?, asks Tong Zhiwei, specialist in constitutional law at the East China University of Political Science on his Weibo account, cited by Reuters.
“Cultural trust”
Last year, a Chinese woman wearing a kimono in the street was arrested by police, who, like censors, sometimes have poor taste in trends.
Amid discussions over draft law banning clothes harmful to the “spirit, feelings of the Chinese nation,” this incident sparked discussions: Chinese wearing Tang clothes were denied entry at Panlongcheng Park, Wuhan, after local guard mistook their clothes for Japanese attire. pic.twitter.com/IokazvhBhl
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) September 8, 2023
A few days ago, Chinese people wearing Tang dynasty clothing were refused entry to a park in the city of Wuhan. Local guards mistook their parasols and silks for Japanese toilets that could offend “ the spirit of the nation “.
A bill which also follows measures against “ historical revisionism » which led to questions among Internet users and in line with the reconquest discourse of “ regained cultural confidence dear to the Chinese president.