Exposed buttocks at Great Wall of China; man and woman detained and deported in China

BEIJING: Two Japanese tourists were detained for two weeks and subsequently deported for exposing buttocks at the Great Wall of China and taking photos of the act. The couple, a man and a woman, were punished by Chinese authorities for actions deemed disrespectful to China and its cultural heritage. The incident occurred near the World Heritage site in Beijing.

The man exposed his buttocks at the iconic landmark, while the woman took photos and videos of the moment. News of the incident sparked widespread outrage across China, with some critics arguing that the images taken by the woman were a sign that Japan had not moved on from its historical attitudes. Following this, the couple was arrested, detained, and later deported.

The couple maintains that the act was intended as a joke and that they did not mean to insult China. They reiterated this explanation in a letter to the Japanese embassy. However, Chinese authorities have dismissed their explanation.

In China, public nudity is strictly prohibited, and offenders often face harsh penalties. Chinese officials have emphasized that the couple's punishment will not impact diplomatic relations between China and Japan.