Police in China have arrested several female writers of “boys love” (BL) fiction — a genre featuring romantic relationships between male characters — amid a sweeping crackdown on such content across the country. Those targeted face possible detention, fines, and prison sentences under existing obscenity laws.
Many of the affected authors published their stories on Haitang, a Taiwanese website popular among fans of BL fiction. The genre, which often includes explicit depictions of male-male romance, has gained a growing readership in China, especially among young women and university students.
Among those summoned by authorities is a university student who writes under the pen name Sijindejin. She recounted receiving a police notice in May requiring her to report to a station in Gansu province, nearly 1,000 kilometers from her home in Chengdu. She flew there on the cheapest available ticket, complying despite limited means.
“I never thought writing my stories could be considered a crime,” Sijindejin said on social media. “I thought I was writing my future — not a path to prison.”
Another author expressed shock and sorrow after being called in by police. “I love each of my books and see the characters as my children, even when called sinful,” she posted on Weibo.
Legal representatives of some detained authors estimate that over 100 writers have been affected by the current enforcement, which includes questioning, fines, and in some cases, criminal charges. Reports indicate that authorities in remote provinces such as Gansu have detained multiple writers, often university students lacking resources for legal defense.
China’s crackdown on BL fiction is not new. In 2018, author Liu Yuanyuan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for publishing a BL novel deemed obscene under China’s digital content laws, which criminalize the distribution of “obscene” material exceeding certain profit or viewership thresholds.
Despite homosexuality being legal in China, LGBTQIA+ themes remain sensitive, and same-sex marriage is not recognized. Some writers and advocates argue that the current crackdown unfairly targets homosexual content. Elsa, a BL author who requested anonymity, called the broad classification of BL fiction as obscene “unreasonable and ignorant.”
“People should respect differences in love and sexuality, whether in reality or fiction,” she said. “Using outdated standards to judge today’s creative works is inappropriate.”
The crackdown has sparked public backlash online, with accusations of “offshore fishing,” where police reportedly summon suspects from distant regions for questioning. The term itself has been censored on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and WeChat. Meanwhile, Haitang’s website has been suspended until at least July 8 as it complies with government demands.
Legal experts offer differing views on the motives behind the crackdown. Some suggest authorities seek to curtail what they see as negative social influences and align cultural content with national policies promoting fertility amid China’s declining birth rates.
Professor Wang Pan, a researcher of Chinese popular culture at the University of New South Wales, noted the crackdown represents an expansion of government surveillance over subcultural content. “The growing popularity of boys love fiction among young women has challenged traditional norms, leading to intensified censorship,” she said.
The crackdown raises concerns about freedom of expression in China, particularly for underprivileged female writers who rely on modest earnings from their creative work.
The Chinese government has yet to provide an official comment on the recent arrests.
