In a very recent development, China has passed new legislation that has banned defamation of military personnel. It has added a new array of legal tools to its 2018 law under which a Chinese popular blogger has been punished recently for defaming PLA soldiers who have been killed in a clash last year with the Indian Army at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.
The legislation which has been adopted by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Thursday has stated that no individual or organization may in any way derogate and slander the honor of serviceman and nor may they slander or insult the reputation of the members of the armed forces according to reports by the state-run news agency.
The new legislation has also banned the desecration of plaques in honor of military personnel.
The prosecutors can file public interest litigation in cases of defamation of the military personnel and also in cases of the infringement on their legitimate rights and the interest that have seriously affected their missions, performance of duties and also damaged the public interest of the society, according to the new law.
The new law has also added to an array of legal tools that have already banned defamation of revolutionary martyrs including the revision to the criminal code of the country and a 2018 Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs according to news reports from Hong Kong-based media outlet.
Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor and Honk Kong-based military affairs commentator commented on the new law and said that the legislation that also covers families of service personnel was meant to bolster the sense of mission of the People’s Liberation Army.
Song has also said to media outlets that previously the Chinese legal instruments were not complete and this new law is going to provide more comprehensive protection for the honors and rights of the Chinese soldiers.
He also added that the Chinese must recognize that there could be military conflicts in the future and it could be very intensive and it is very important to ensure that the military is very well respected in the society.
On 31st May, an internet celebrity in China has been sentenced for defaming a Chinese soldier who was killed in a clash with the Indian Army last year at the Galwan Valley.
Qiu Ziming, who has more than 2.5 million followers has received an eight-month jail term according to reports from a state-run news agency on 1st June.
This has been the first reported case of a suspect who has been charged after a new law is passed in China in 2018 which also stipulates that it is legal to defame the martyrs and heroes of a country.
Qiu who is also known as Labixiaoqiu online was also been ordered to publicly apologize through major domestic portals and also the national media within 10 days to remove negative impact.
