“Feelings of the nation hurt”: China discusses strange dress law “Feelings of the nation hurt”: China discusses strange dress law

China’s Politburo announced on its website early this month that it would ban clothing and symbols that “harm the nation’s spirit and hurt the nation’s feelings.”

However, the law is currently only a proposal and has not yet entered into force. Officially, the standing committee wants to wait for the first reactions and opinions of the population and then decide whether the law should actually be implemented.

But it is very likely that this will happen. The police are already taking action against people who do not wear inconspicuous clothing. People who wear Japanese-inspired clothing, such as kimonos or cosplays, are regularly discriminated against. Feminine clothing for men is also frowned upon. Early last week, a video surfaced of a man in a skirt being reprimanded by the police and sent home:

It will be decided on September 30 whether the law will be approved. If this happens, police will in future have the authority to arrest people like the man in the video and impose fines of up to 5,000 yuan (614 francs). In addition, prison sentences of 15 days can be imposed.

Legislation not specific enough

What seems most concerning in China is the lack of specificity in the law. The interpretation is left almost entirely to the police officers. Zhao Hong, a professor of political science at Beijing University, summarized the concerns in an article for The Paper:

In the article, the professor also refers to online comments that are concerned about the scope of the law and possible further developments. One user uses the example of the kimono as a garment that apparently goes against the “spirit of the nation” and wonders whether other Japanese imports, such as anime or sushi, could also be banned. Other users went even further, saying the ban could theoretically be extended to Western, including non-Chinese, clothing, such as suits or ties.