China makes slander of martyrs and heroes punishable

China has amended its criminal code to restrict the public discussion on topics the government deems to be politically incorrect. The slander (discussing rumours or criticising heroes of the nation) is now a punishable offence.

Political analyst Wu Qiang said that it is a sign of absolute political totalitarianism. The law came into effect in March 2021 and has been used at least 15 times, reported New York Times.

The campaign is being seen as Chinese President Xi Jinping's attempt to solidify a moral foundation for the Communist Party's supremacy. Editor of China Story Adam Ni said that the party appears to be using political and historical orthodoxy as a foundation.

The Cyberspace Administration of China has created hotlines to report violations of the law. Being responsible for policing the country's internet, it has published 10 "rumours" that are forbidden to discuss.

Some of the forbidden topics are: Was Mao Zedong's Long March really not so long? Did the Red Army skirt heavy fighting against the Japanese during World War II to save its strength for the civil war against the Nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek? Was Mao's son, Mao Anying, killed by a U.S. airstrike during the Korean War because he lit a stove to make fried rice? Debates on Tibet and the Tiananmen Square protests are also not allowed.

Seven people were charged under the law for questioning the official version of the death toll after a clash with Indian troops in June 2020. Chinese officials had declared four Chinese soldiers died but the number was reportedly much higher. A prominent blogger with 2.5 million followers, Qiu Ziming was also arrested.