China proposes law to fine and jail people for wearing 'wrong clothes'

Chinese Communist Party is trying to pass new law that will see people who wear ‘offensive’ clothes jailed for 15 days and fined £500 as it ‘hurts the nation’s feelings’

• Critics allege the proposed law is ‘vague’ and a violation of ‘basic citizens’ rights’ 

The Chinese Communist Party has proposed a new law that will see people who wear the ‘wrong clothes’ fined £500 and jailed for 15 days, it has emerged.

The law would allow those who ‘produce, disseminate, publicise, and spread’ items or speeches that could damage the ‘Chinese nation’s spirit’ or ‘hurt the Chinese nation’s feelings’ to be punished, The Telegraph reported.

Critics allege the law is ‘vague’ and a violation of ‘basic citizens’ rights’ to select one’s own attire. Others argue that it could ‘stimulate the spread of populism and ultra-nationalism’ and ‘intensify oppositional sentiments’.

There has been a growing anti-Japanese sentiment throughout China in recent years under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. His rule has also seen an increase in nationalism.

Police have previously temporarily detained people in China for wearing clothing that was reportedly ‘linked too closely’ to Japan. 

The Chinese government has proposed a new law that would allow police to detain people for wearing the ‘wrong clothes’. Offenders can be fined £500 and jailed for 15 days. Pictured: Stock photo of Chinese soldiers marching in Tiananmen Square

There has been a growing anti- Japanese sentiment throughout China in recent years under the leadership of President Xi Jinping (pictured last month). Mr Xi’s rule has also seen an increase in nationalism

A woman wearing clothing from the Tag dynasty was evicted from archaeological Park in Wuhan on Thursday after staff mistakenly thought her outfit was from Japan. The newspaper claims she was removed thrice.

It came after a woman was detained for several hours last year in Southeastern Suzhou for wearing a Japanese kimono and taking photos in the street.

Legal experts familiar with the proposal claim the legislation lacks ‘clear definition’ and reportedly fear that it could result in ‘excessive enforcement’.

China University of Political Science and Law professor Zhao Hong questioned what would happen if an officer had a ‘personal interpretation of the hurt and initiates moral judgment of others beyond the scope of the law’.

Lao Dongyan, a professor of law at Tsinghua University, echoed the sentiment and argued for the removal of the proposed law.

She reportedly said: ‘The regulation could also stimulate the spread of populism and ultra-nationalism, further deteriorating the public opinion environment, and may also intensify oppositional sentiments in some countries.’

Others believe the legislation is another attempt by Mr Xi’s regime to control Chinese citizens in ‘every aspect of life’.

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