BEIJING: China has passed legislation to punish anyone who disrespects the national anthem with up to three years in prison, state media reported Saturday. “Serious cases of disrespecting the country’s national anthem in public would get punishments including deprivation of political rights, criminal detention, and imprisonment of up to three years,” it said. The country in September passed a National Anthem Law applying to mainland citizens, which specified a much lesser jail term of 15 days for disrespecting the song. According to the National Anthem Law, “The March of the Volunteers” can no longer be played as background music in public places and “inappropriate” private performances of the song are also forbidden. The September law follows regulations on national anthem etiquette that were announced in 2014 to “enhance the song’s role in cultivating core socialist values”.

Source: Manila Times November 04, 2017 12:00 UTC