China's Crackdown on Stand-Up Comedy Raises Speech Concerns.
A joke by a Chinese comedian about the military has sparked a $2 million fine, a police probe, cancelled shows, and fears for the survival of Chinese stand-up comedy. Despite China's tightening censorship regime, stand-up comedy had managed to gain popularity with performances in small groups and material that managed to just toe the line. The incident has raised concerns about a clampdown on the whole industry and the shrinking space for public expression in general.