China Unveils Cultural Management Law Enforcement Force to Align Media and Agencies with Government Policy
China has introduced a new law enforcement force called the Cultural Management Law Enforcement Force, tasked with aligning the country’s cultural agencies and media with government policy, including Xi Jinping thought. This move further reflects the Chinese government’s efforts to tighten control over various sectors of society.
In Heilongjiang province, the Cultural Management Law Enforcement Force recently held a ceremony where over 500 people attended to witness the team don their new dark blue uniforms adorned with the Chinese characters for cultural enforcement. Thirteen municipal cultural market comprehensive enforcement teams in the province were awarded flags by He Jing, the director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.
This development follows the establishment of other specialized law enforcement units, such as the Urban Management Law Enforcement Force and the Agricultural Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Force. However, these previous forces have faced criticism for their heavy-handed tactics, leading to public anger and concerns about stability.
The role of the Cultural Management Law Enforcement Force includes cracking down on violations in the areas of culture, tourism, publishing, broadcasting, television, and film. This could involve tracking down and punishing writers on online literature platforms who create and spread harmful content, such as pornography, violence, and feudal superstition.
The emergence of the Cultural Management Law Enforcement Force has sparked mixed reactions on Chinese social media. Many netizens have expressed fears that their presence could limit cultural expression and create a cultural desert. Some have questioned the necessity of such control, wondering what exactly cultural management entails and how it will affect various industries, like internet companies.
Cai Shengkun, a U.S.-based current affairs commentator, believes that the establishment of this law enforcement team aims to increase political supervision over the cultural sphere, including cultural products, performing arts, and entertainment. This move aligns with a 2018 plan by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to integrate and form a comprehensive enforcement team for cultural markets, with guidance from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Critics argue that focusing too much on cultural management could stifle creativity and innovation, potentially hampering China’s vitality. They highlight that in the past, culture flourished without security or social stability issues.
While the new law enforcement force seeks to enforce government policy and maintain order, it remains to be seen how it will navigate the delicate balance between control and cultural freedom. The Cultural Management Law Enforcement Force’s actions and their impact on China’s cultural landscape will undoubtedly shape the country’s future direction.
