bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Laurie Chen

Two men have been detained under cybersecurity laws over online comments about Tuesday’s National Day military parade, according to Chinese authorities.
A 37-year-old surnamed Gao was held by police in Anshan, Liaoning province, for 15 days after sending “malicious” WeChat group messages in which he appeared to threaten to kill soldiers taking part in China’s 70th anniversary commemorations.
Anshan police said on Wednesday that Gao was taken into custody after complaints about his comments.
“Let’s go to Beijing, old man … I’m not afraid of death,” redacted screenshots shared by police quoted him as saying. “Killing, day to night … must get a gun and [shoot] them.”

In Nanchong, Sichuan province, a 24-year-old man surnamed Qi was arrested on Monday and given seven days’ administrative detention for remarks sent in a group chat on Sunday that were published online by other WeChat users.
“Qi published jingri [spiritually Japanese] comments online, as well as several inappropriate messages that targeted the National Day soldiers’ parade,” Nanchong cyberpolice said in an online statement on Monday.
“Despite being reminded by other netizens, he still deliberately insulted those who took part in the military parade.”
Chinese rage comic firm first to be sued for defamation under ‘heroes and martyrs’ law
Jingri is a derogatory term to describe those who worship Japanese culture, still a sensitive issue long after the end of Japanese occupation of China.
In screenshots of messages shared by the police, Qi wrote “Me and My Big Japanese Empire” as a pun on the recently released patriotic Chinese film, My People, My Country.
“What is there to watch?” he was quoted as saying. “They’re just walking in military formation. Just aeroplanes, tanks and missiles … It’s only fun to watch if they’re fighting.”
One WeChat user fired back: “Others are dedicating themselves to the country, what are you doing?”
“What do you care about how words affect my reputation?” Qi replied. “Are you going to report me?”
The offenders were held under Article 70 of China’s cybersecurity law, which prohibits “activities harming national security, inciting subversion of the national regime … inciting the separation of the country, endangering national unity” as well as spreading terrorism, ethnic hatred and violence.
China suing person accused of defaming dead firefighter, state media reports
In May 2018, China introduced a law banning defamation of national heroes and martyrs past and present, in a sign of Beijing’s tightening grip on public discourse.
In September 2018, an online satirical publisher was ordered to pay 100,000 yuan (US$14,000) to the family of civil war general Ye Ting after being convicted of defaming him in an animated film.
In July this year, a Chinese cartoonist was detained by police for “insulting China” after she published satirical drawings online depicting Chinese people as pigs.
Police claimed she worshipped Japanese culture.


China’s border with Central Asia deemed concern amid demographic decline

‘Intrusive’: China retail giant sparks controversy over bride price, lavish wedding ban

Chinese province makes labour pain relief pledge to ease childbirth jitters

China is better off letting young people let off steam

China society

Chinese men held under cybersecurity laws for chat group threats and insults to National Day troops

Two men are feeling the force of cybersecurity laws after disparaging soldiers who appeared in Tuesday’s National Day parade. Photo: SCMP

A 37-year-old surnamed Gao was held by police in Anshan, northeastern Liaoning province, for 15 days after sending ÒmaliciousÓ WeChat group messages which appeared to threaten to kill soldiers. Photo: Handout

China’s cybersecurity law is biased and open to abuse, but it may not stop others copying it

Critics worry that China’s cybersecurity law could be a Trojan horse designed to boost China’s policy promoting indigenous innovation, while other foreign technology firms worry that they will eventually be forced to divulge intellectual property to government inspectors. Photo: Shutterstock

A man uses a computer in an internet cafe in Beijing on June 1, 2017. China implemented a controversial cybersecurity law on June 1, despite concerns from foreign firms worried about its impact on their ability to do business in the world's second largest economy. / AFP PHOTO / GREG BAKER

Screens showing traffic data of Hangzhou city are seen during a media tour of City Brain, an AI-powered traffic-management system by Alibaba Cloud, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China April 10, 2018. Picture taken April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

New law will give authorities two years to prosecute anyone in Hong Kong who insults Chinese national anthem – and doing so could land you in jail for three

This photo taken on April 3, 2017 shows Tibetan students from Jiangsu Nantong Minority Middle School visiting the memorial hall of a cemetery of revolutionary matyrs during the "Qingming" festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu province. During Qingming, Chinese traditionally tend the graves of their departed loved ones and often burn paper offerings to honour them and keep them comfortable in the afterlife. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Patrick Nip Tak-kuen attends a press conference on the National Anthem Bill at the Central Government Offices in Tamar. 09JAN18 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Lawmaker-elect Sixtus “Baggio” Leung Chung-hang attends the 6th Legco council oath taking session. 12OCT16 SCMP/Sam Tsang

Police will have two years to investigate contraventions of the anthem law. Photo: David Wong

Law criminalising insults to national anthem passed by China’s legislature, with detention for offenders

China’s legislature on Friday passed a law criminalising insults to the national anthem. Photo: EPA

News

China

People & Culture


Liaoning man detained for 15 days after online messages about killing soldiers



Police in Liaoning say man detained for 15 days after online messages about killing troops.


People’s Republic of China at 70

Crime in China

Cybersecurity

Internet