China slaps comedy firm $2 million fine for mocking military. China is known for being an authoritarian regime, and most people in the world are aware of its strict policies, with the exception of a comedian whose troupe was fined heavily for a joke comparing the Chinese military to stray dogs.
Famous Chinese comedian Li Haoshi sparks outrage with a remark that many Chinese consider insulting. In the midst of the backlash, the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau criticized the comedian for reportedly disparaging the People’s Liberation Army during live performances.
Local officials emphasized in a statement that no enterprise or individual would be permitted to sully the glorious image of the People’s Liberation Army. Meanwhile, Chinese police have launched an inquiry into the incident, claiming that Li’s act was deeply offensive.
It all started with a video of a Chinese comedian that quickly went viral on social media. The Chinese man can be heard in the video recalling an incident in which his two stray dogs compete to chase a squirrel, and the chase reminded him of the renowned army phrase “Maintain exemplary conduct, fight to win.”
China slaps comedy firm $2 million fine for mocking military. The joke was made after Chinese President Xi Jinping used a slogan at a political meeting with a military team.
As the episode made news around the world, activists argued that it limited free speech.
In recent years, Beijing has enacted legislation to prohibit any slander of the People’s Liberation Army. A former investigative journalist was sentenced to seven months in prison under the contentious law after raising concerns about Beijing’s conduct in the Korean War.
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The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the People’s Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and Strategic Support Force. It is under the leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC) with its chairman as commander-in-chief.
