Fact Check: "At least 50 Boys Love authors arrested in recent weeks in Gansu."
What We Know
Recent reports indicate that there has been a significant crackdown on authors of Boys Love (BL) novels in China, particularly in Gansu Province. According to a New York Times article, police have detained dozens of writers, with estimates suggesting that as many as 50 authors may have been arrested in Gansu alone. This crackdown is part of a broader campaign against gay-themed literature, which the Chinese government has increasingly targeted under obscenity laws. The crackdown follows a history of censorship and legal actions against writers in this genre, which has gained popularity among young women in China.
The Boys Love genre, which features romantic narratives between male characters, has been criticized by state media as "vulgar" and potentially harmful to young readers' sexual orientations. In previous instances, authors have faced severe penalties, including prison sentences, for producing content deemed obscene under Chinese law (Deccan Herald).
Analysis
The claim that at least 50 Boys Love authors have been arrested in Gansu is supported by multiple credible sources. The New York Times and ABC News both report on the arrests, detailing the scale of the crackdown and the types of authors affected. The New York Times article notes that this appears to be the largest police roundup of its kind, indicating a shift in enforcement tactics from individual targeting to mass arrests.
The reports highlight the broader implications of these arrests, suggesting that they reflect a tightening grip on creative expression in China, particularly for female and LGBTQ+ voices. Legal experts and commentators have noted that the vague nature of Chinese obscenity laws allows for broad interpretation, which can lead to disproportionate punishments for writers (Radio Free Asia).
While the exact number of arrests may vary depending on the source, the consensus among reputable news outlets is that the crackdown is extensive and unprecedented in its scale. The involvement of local police in multiple jurisdictions, as reported, further corroborates the claim that this is not an isolated incident but part of a coordinated effort by the Chinese authorities.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that at least 50 Boys Love authors have been arrested in recent weeks in Gansu is supported by credible reports from multiple news outlets. The scale of the crackdown, the nature of the arrests, and the context of increasing censorship in China all point to the validity of this claim.
