Rape allegations: Chinese pop star Kris Wu arrested

In China, police arrested one of the country’s most famous singers and actors. 30-year-old Kris Wu is charged with multiple rape. The case also has a highly political component.

News of the arrest of pop star Kris Wu hit China like a bomb last night. The authorities accuse the 30-year-old of rape in several cases. The police in the Chinese capital Beijing said in an online posting.

Rape allegations against Kris Wu have been around for a few weeks. More than 20 young women have gone public with corresponding allegations since the beginning of July. Among other things, they accuse Wu of getting her drunk and then pushing her to have sex. The pop star rejects the allegations.

Kris Wu’s real name is Wu Yi Fan. He is one of the best-known, most successful and best-paid celebrities in China and is active as a singer, actor, TV presenter, model and influencer. Women’s rights activists have welcomed his arrest.

A diplomatic matter

This also has a political component. Wu was born in Guangzhou, China, but is a Canadian citizen. Accordingly, his arrest is now also a diplomatic matter.

Relations between China and Canada, however, are worse than they have been in decades. One of the reasons is the case of a top manager of the Chinese Huawei group, who was placed under house arrest in Vancouver, Canada at the end of 2018 because of an arrest warrant from the USA.

Apparently in retaliation, the Chinese leadership had two Canadian citizens arrested in China shortly afterwards. Michael Spavor and Michal Kovrig have been in solitary confinement since then. The arrest of the Canadian Kris Wu in China could now create new diplomatic entanglements between the two states.