China’s legislature is considering revisions to a law that would ban clothes deemed to be “detrimental to the spirit of the Chinese people”.
The proposed changes outlined by the Standing Committee target behavior deemed “detrimental to the spirit of the Chinese people and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,” without specifying the exact offenses.
Offenders could face detention for up to 15 days or fines of up to 5,000 yuan (approximately $680).
The possible adjustments are a reflection of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s broader attack on civil liberties. Due to long-standing tensions between China and Japan, one such crackdown in recent years was the incarceration of a lady for donning a kimono in public. Other recent occurrences involved people flying LGBTQ+ flags or wearing rainbow-themed clothing on college campuses.
Chinese social media users expressed concerns about the legal changes, questioning how authorities would determine when Chinese sentiments are hurt. Some believe that the proposed law could lead to arbitrary punishment.
