China cracks down on strippers

The sex industry is now tolerated in China

By Holly Williams BBC correspondent in Beijing

Police in China are trying to curb a proliferation of striptease shows.

Chinese state media says that the strippers have been performing in nightclubs, cinemas - and even temples.

Any kind of lewd behaviour was considered counter-revolutionary

Now the government says the nude shows have to stop.

Authorities have arrested more than 200 performers and organisers.

In the early years of socialist austerity, gambling, prostitution and any form of lewd behaviour were considered counter-revolutionary.

'Blind eye'

Officially, authorities here still take the same high moral tone.

But strip shows, brothels and gambling dens are now tolerated in virtually every Chinese city.

State media says that before these recent arrests, police had turned a blind eye to the strippers.

Some local authorities are even accused of financial involvement in the shows.

This crackdown might put a temporary stop to stripping - or it might just make the organisers more careful.

Either way, the moral authority of the communist regime is fast disappearing.