In a lawsuit alleging patriotism, Nobel Literature winner Mo Yan is accused of disparaging China’s heroes

Though his work brought China its first literary Nobel Prize, is it sufficiently nationalistic for China under Xi Jinping? That is the central topic in a well-known case that is now provoking discussion about nationalism in China.

Recently, internet nationalists have been using patriotic campaigns in China to target journalists, authors, and other public personalities they claim have insulted the nation’s honor. However, it is uncommon for a public figure of Mo Yan’s stature to be singled out for such an assault.

Wu Wanzheng, a patriotic blogger who goes by the online handle “Truth-Telling Mao Xinghuo,” filed a lawsuit under a statute that imposes civil fines and, in some situations, criminal penalties for alleged transgressions against China’s martyrs and heroes.

Wu said that Mo’s writings have denigrated Mao Zedong, the previous revolutionary leader, and the Chinese Communist Party, “beautifying” hostile Japanese troops.

In the complaint filed last month, the author was ordered to pay 1.5 billion yuan ($209 million) in damages, one yuan for each Chinese citizen, and to apologize to all Chinese people, the nation’s sacrifices, and Mao. Additionally, he asked that Mo’s books be taken out of distribution.

Wu’s complaints were based on the 2018 legislation that made disparaging heroes and martyrs illegal and subject to a maximum three-year jail sentence. The bill is a component of President Xi’s effort to combat “historical nihilism,” the term the party use to describe any historical interpretation that differs from the official line of events.

2012 saw Mo—real name Guan Moye—win the Nobel Prize. He is renowned for his depictions of Chinese rural life and his exploration of some of the drawbacks of the nation’s rapid economic growth.

In 2005, he said, “Literature and art should expose the darkness and injustice of society,” as he accepted an honorary degree from a university in Hong Kong. However, the 69-year-old and Beijing have not clashed too much.

The Chinese Writers Association, which is supported by the government, elected him vice chairman in 2011. A senior party official hailed him as a “outstanding representative” of China’s growing economic power and global influence after he won the Nobel Prize.

Wu is not expected to prevail in the case. The Chinese government has not made an official statement about the tale, but on Tuesday, the state-run newspaper Global Times released an article that referenced a recent speech made by Mo, perhaps endorsing the writer.

The blogger claimed on the Chinese social media site Weibo that Wu’s failure to provide Mo’s residential location was the reason a Beijing court dismissed his first complaint. A portion of the 2018 legislation that makes defaming or disparaging “heroes and martyrs to the detriment of the public interest” would subject one to legal liability, which is the basis of his present complaint. Because the court has not made the records available to the public, the Associated Press was unable to independently confirm his assertions.

Hu Xijin, a sharp-tongued media pundit and former Global Times editor, also attacked Wu, branding his effort to sue Mo as a “farce” and a “populist” move. Hu criticized the action’s popularity on Weibo, calling it “a very alarming trend in online public opinion.” Wu vowed to sue Hu in retaliation.

Online, opinions differed: some denounced the accusations, while others said it was a symbol of China’s rising nationalism. Weibo has seen a surge in debate, with the hashtag #MoYanbeingsued receiving over two million views. A minimum of one further associated hashtag has been blocked.