China Arrests BL Authors in Nationwide Crackdown on “Inappropriate” Content
The Chinese government is once again tightening its grip on creative expression. A new wave of censorship has led to the arrest of BL (Boys’ Love) authors in a coordinated nationwide operation. These writers, who focus on romantic relationships between male characters, are under investigation for allegedly producing and spreading obscene material.
According to Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, police in Lanzhou, a city in Gansu province, began the investigation earlier this year. The targeted authors had been publishing their stories on Haitang Wenxuecheng, a Taiwanese website catering to an adult female audience.
China Arrests BL Authors in Nationwide Crackdown on “Inappropriate” Content
As of July 14th, reports indicate that some writers have already been detained, while over 200 individuals were summoned by police for questioning. Most of those affected are believed to be female university students, along with a smaller number of readers from the platform.
Despite the relatively low profits from their work—typically only a few thousand yuan for even the most popular writers—Chinese authorities view this genre as a threat to the country’s moral fabric.
The crackdown aligns with President Xi Jinping’s recent push to eliminate what the government considers harmful or destabilizing media. In January, a national conference was held to strengthen the campaign against pornography and illegal publications, particularly those that spark “strong public reactions.”
Experts believe this repression stems from rising concern over shifting societal values among Chinese youth, such as increasing resistance to marriage and parenthood. Since BL stories are especially popular among young women, the genre has become a symbol of cultural change—one that the authorities are determined to suppress.
via Livedoor News
