China Declares War on Decadence, Drugs, Gambling
The Chinese Government is set to launch a major crackdown on drugs, prostitution, gambling and overall decadence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to go after corruption and excess among the elite, a prime source of public discontent as the gap between the poor and the wealthy continues to grow, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The son of film star Jackie Chan, Jaycee Chan, 32, was ensnared in a Beijing drug bust last week alongside Taiwan actor Ko Chen-tung, prompting Chinese officials to react. A number of other mostly B-listed celebrities have also been detained for suspected drug use in recent weeks. If found guilty, Chan and Chen-tung could be put to death. Ironically, Jackie Chan , 60, served as a goodwill spokesman for the China National Anti-Drug Committee in 2009.
The use of hard drugs, including methamphetamine and ecstasy, has grown along with the rise of a new urban class with greater disposable income, Reuters notes.
Xi has called for the cleanup of what is being deemed as the “four practices”. These include formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance. The biggest crackdown will be on illicit narcotics, followed by gambling and prostitution.
According to the Reuters report, China has been unable to quell the drug epidemic in recent years, thus requiring a drastic crackdown. 42 entertainment companies have since signed a deal with the Beijing police stating they would not work with celebrities who use illegal drugs.
China is home to the biggest gambling destination, the former Portuguese colony of Macau. It was not immediately clear how the country’s new “get tough” policy would affect this gambling enclave. Recently, authorities have begun to crack down on criminal gangs operating in the region.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
