China’s recent crackdown on prostitution reminds me of the scene in Casablanca where corrupt Captain Renault proclaims he’s “shocked, shocked’’ that gambling is taking place at Rick’s Café.
Prostitution is rampant in China and has been for a long time. You can find hookers at hotels, massage parlors, barbershops, karaoke bars and many other businesses that are flimsy fronts for sex peddling. Richard Burger, author of “Behind the Red Door: Sex in China,” says prostitution is a “cornerstone of the economy’’ that contributes 6 to 8 percent of the country’s annual GDP.
So it’s almost laughable when the government launches one of its periodic anti-prostitution campaigns, acting as if this is a horrible problem that it has just discovered. Especially because, according to Burger and others, top Communist Party officials are known to be frequent customers.
Last month, police in 16 Chinese cities raided businesses suspected of running prostitution rings and detained more than 1,000 suspects. It’s part of a “sweep yellow’’ campaign, referring to the color associated with the illegal sex trade in China.
Everyone I’ve talked to thinks it’s nothing but a symbolic gesture meant to show the public that the country’s leaders are cracking down on vice, including gambling and drugs.
“Prostitution in China is like rice and noodles,’’ a friend told me. “It is a permanent part of our culture.’’
