HONG KONG – In America, the refusal by some NFL players to stand for the national anthem touched off a roiling, year-long national debate about racial injustice, patriotism and freedom of expression. In China, a 21-year-old woman accused of “disrespecting” the national anthem sparked an immediate and draconian reaction: she was jailed. But it was enough to have violated China’s new national anthem law that prohibits playing or singing the “March of the Volunteers” in a “distorted or disrespectful way in public,” police said. “The national anthem is an embodiment and symbol of our country, and all citizens and organizations should respect and defend the honor of the anthem,” Shanghai police said in a social media announcement. Those found disrespecting the anthem can be detained for up to 15 days.

Source: National Post October 16, 2018 13:17 UTC