Backlash in China against draft law banning items that harm 'national spirit'

Proposed changes to a Chinese public security law to criminalize comments, clothing or symbols that "undermine the spirit" or "harm the feelings" of the country have triggered the concern of legal experts, who say the amendments could be used arbitrarily. The changes were first made public last week as part of a mandatory "soliciting opinion" process, as concerns mount about the increasingly authoritarian and nationalistic rule of President Xi Jinping. This week, several legal scholars and bloggers wrote editorials and social media posts calling for the removal of certain articles in the draft. The scholars and commentators also encouraged citizens…