China's planned ban on offensive clothing shows growing intolerance

[dalton99a]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/24/china-clothing-ban-authoritarian-intolerance/
https://archive.ph/JbL98

China’s planned ban on offensive clothing shows growing intolerance
By the Editorial Board | September 24, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. EDT

China’s authoritarian rulers already try to control what its citizens read, see and even think. But the ever-paranoid leaders are apparently still not content with their near-domination over the private lives of the people they purport to represent. Now they want to control what Chinese citizens wear.

The Standing Committee of China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, has published the draft of a proposal to ban clothing deemed “detrimental to the spirit of the Chinese people” and that “hurt the feelings” of the Chinese people. Anyone caught sporting such offensive clothing could be subject to a fine of up to $680 and up to 15 days in jail.

As usual in China, the purpose of the proposed new law was not spelled out. But it comes after a spate of incidents involving Chinese citizens wearing traditional Japanese clothing, which infuriates hard-line nationalists given the two countries’ wartime history. In one incident, a woman in Suzhou city was detained by police for wearing a Japanese kimono; she was accused of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” That’s the catchall phrasing China’s authorities use to target anyone considered a troublemaker. Other Chinese citizens dressed in “cosplay” to imitate Japanese anime characters were also reportedly harassed.

The government’s move also comes after concertgoers and students were targeted by authorities for wearing rainbow images on their clothing or handing out rainbow flags in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. China’s leaders have similarly embarked on a recent campaign against teenagers sporting tattoos or men wearing feminine attire. A Chinese high school was in the news not long ago for banning “weird” hairstyles, defined as long hair on girls and sideburns or mullets on boys.

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[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Republican uptopia.

They want to do the same thing here for everyone not part of the Party.

[hildegaard28]

2. The Chinese Communists

Sound a lot like American Republicans. We need to throw that label back in their faces. Commie Republicans trying to control what Americans, read, think, feel.

[Duppers]

4. Indeed! 👍

[58Sunliner]

3. Long hair, sideburns and rainbows. FFS.