In Chinacontroversy has been generated due to a new bill proposed by the Public Security Administration Punishment Law that seeks to ban cosplay in the country, arguing that it could harm the spirit of the Chinese nation. According to Wanuxi, China is attempting to ban the practice of cosplay after the recent release of a draft law on public security administration.
The bill proposes two notable provisions in Article 34 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, which is currently under review in China. Firstly, it prohibits the wearing of costumes or emblems, as well as forcing others to wear them in public places if they are deemed to harm the spirit or feelings of the Chinese nation. Secondly, it prohibits engaging in activities that damage the environment and atmosphere of commemorating heroes and martyrs in public places.
As soon as the bill was unveiled, numerous discussions emerged in online forums in the Chinese community, arguing that the first provision directly targets cosplay. Recently, it has been reported that many cosplayers in China have been criticized for dressing characters that have Japanese or Western appearance at events related to anime, comics, and video games. Although cosplayers emphasize that they are simply dressing as characters from video games or animations, they claim that they are insulted and even forced to undress.
This new bill reminds people that Natsumatsuri events in mainland China were canceled last year after numerous protests, especially the one planned in Nanjing. The protests are said to have occurred due to people’s dissatisfaction with the holding of a Japanese-style summer festival, despite Nanjing’s history.
So far, the Public Security Administration Punishment Law bill is under review and has not yet been approved. However, if approved, anyone found engaging in cosplay could face detention of more than 5 days and less than 10 days, or a fine of more than 1,000 yuan ($137) and no more than 3,000 yuan ($412). Dollars). In more serious cases, the penalty could be detention of 10 to 15 days or less and a fine of up to 5,000 yuan ($687). The proposal has sparked widespread debate in China about the limits of expression and popular culture in the country.
Fountain: The New York Times
