China may bring in new law to punish those who slander national heroes
Communist Party considering new legislation to outlaw insults to those who died fighting the Japanese and the Nationalists
China is considering a law punishing those who slander its heroes and martyrs or cause physical damage to their memorials, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, the latest piece of legislation to protect the country’s symbols of state.
Xi Jinping has ushered in new legislation aimed at securing China from threats both within and outside its borders as well as presiding over a sweeping crackdown on dissent and free speech.
China’s largely rubber stamp parliament amended its criminal law last month to extend punishments for publicly desecrating the national flag and emblem to include disrespect towards the national anthem. Punishments include jail terms of up to three years.
The latest proposed legislation is aimed at protecting the reputation of martyrs – those who have given their lives for China or the Communist Party – and who are already publicly lauded in the country.
Memorials to those who fought against the Japanese during the Second World War, or in the Chinese civil war against the Nationalists, and others are scattered across the country. Schoolchildren learn about the feats of the most famous.
Xinhua said the new law would offer unspecified punishments to those who insult or slander heroes and martyrs or damage their memorials.