China fines comedy troupe $2 million for military joke.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism Bureau has fined Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media Co. $2.13 million and confiscated $196,000 in "illegal gains" after a military joke made by one of its comedians, Li Haoshi, drew strong public criticism. The joke was deemed to have breached rules and "harmed society." The incident has divided the Chinese public over what sort of jokes are inappropriate as performances such as stand-up comedy become increasingly popular and highlights the limits of appropriate content in China where authorities say it must promote core socialist values.