Summary

China has intensified its crackdown on erotic fiction writers, particularly those creating danmei (gay romance/erotica), with over 50 arrests in Anhui province since June 2024.

At least 10 individuals have been sentenced, with penalties reaching up to 4.5 years in prison. Many writers published on Taiwan-based Haitang Literature, which has faced disruption.

Under China’s strict laws, earning over 250,000 yuan (~$34,500) from such works can result in a life sentence, though reduced sentences are possible if profits are repaid.

Critics argue the campaign undermines freedom of expression and inflates sales figures to justify harsh punishments.

  • AItoothbrush@lemmy.zip
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    4 days ago

    Tankies boutta call every single person whos gay on this earth a capitalist pig…

      • comfy@lemmy.ml
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        4 days ago

        Nah, they’re just over at the crosspost thread: https://lemmy.ml/post/24456592

        Their main point is that, as the article states, erotica is outlawed whether it’s gay or not. They weren’t ‘arrested for writing gay erotica’, they were arrested for writing erotica. Obviously that’s also a controversial position, but it’s a very different one to the false homophobic position implied by the headline.

        • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          4 days ago

          I’m learning more by the day that .world’s issue with tankies is driven less by any of their actually problematic behavior than by this growing pseudo-mythos where users seem to treat them as a sort of online bogeyman. More often that not, I’ve seen “the tankies sure are going to hate this!” where no actual tankies ever appear. It’s just lazy engagement, plus “tankies” becoming Lemmy-speak for “leftist who I disagree with (or challenges my preconceptions in a way that makes me uncomfortable)”.

          Checking out the comment thread, as of the time of this writing, I see one “but US bad too!” moron, a few .ml users with fairly reasoned responses (regardless of if I agree or not), and a few geniuses, including the OP there, looking to start shit and acting surprised when they’re called out on it.

          • WanderingVentra@lemm.ee
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            4 days ago

            Seriously every thread it’s the top comment, but there’s never any actual tankies in the thread. I feel like I’m in the McCarthy 1950’s whenever I’m looking through .world threads lol.

      • affiliate@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        most tanky positions are indefensible. and yet, they try to defend them anyways.

    • VeganPizza69 Ⓥ@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      The extra sad thing is that China isn’t even “tankie-socialist” anymore, much like how the Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore.

      • Juice@midwest.social
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        4 days ago

        Me, a chad communist China supporter: Mao was good actually

        You, virgin president of China: in this house we stan Deng, and Marx was wrong about class