Kris Wu's case prompts debate on female agency, Fang Aiqing reports.

Kris Wu arrives in Shanghai to shoot a film in 2015. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Beijing's Chaoyang District People's Procuratorate formalized the arrest of Chinese Canadian pop star Kris Wu, 30, on suspicion of rape on Monday, 17 days following his initial detention.

Since July, Wu's case has continued to draw attention on Chinese social media.

The scandal has largely become not only an education for young women and their families on the importance of safe sex, but also a cautionary tale over the drastic gaps in financial or social status that can possibly lead to sexual exploitation.

Wu's catalog of films, music and reality show appearances have since been removed from the internet and his social media accounts are currently closed.

According to China's Criminal Procedure Law, being arrested usually means the police has sufficient evidence to prove a crime has been committed and believe that the suspect is likely to cause further harm if he remains at large.

Wu's case was opened following an online storm that whipped up in July when an 18-year-old student at the Communication University of Beijing, who calls herself Du Meizhu, claimed on microblogging platform Sina Weibo that, in December last year, the pair had sex after she was plied with drink and lost consciousness at a party at his home.

They reportedly kept in touch until April, which Du regarded as the pair being in a relationship, but later her friend claimed that Wu had given Du the cold shoulder. Du says she is battling a major depressive disorder.

Since then, more than 30 young women, some of whom are under the age of 20, have come forward online claiming to have had similar experiences of varying degrees, or to have been lured into having sex, and Du alleges that there have been several "underage victims" unwilling to speak publicly.

Usually, it would start by being invited to audition for a part in one of Wu's music videos, or to attend a party with a small gathering of fans.

According to New York-based Chinese language media outlet uschinapress.com, California-based attorney, Wang Jing, claims that a former fan of Wu, turning to her, alleges that she had a sexual relationship with the singer when she was under 18, which according to California state law is below the legal age of consent and can be considered statutory rape.

The attorney says she's evaluating the details of the claim and encourages other potential victims to come forward.

In recent years, a growing number of women have dared to speak out about their suffering from sexual harassment and are reporting more to the judiciary authorities and moral supervisors. While winning support from the public, some of them, however, have been met with victim-blaming. This has been particularly evident in the case of women making allegations against Wu, many of whom are internet celebrities, social media influencers or college students majoring in the performing arts.

Hundreds of fans wait to see Wu at a hotel in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in 2017. (YUAN KEJIA / FOR CHINA DAILY)

For instance, both sides have confirmed that afterward, Du received money from Wu for online shopping, which Wu's supporters point to as a sign of sexual exchange.

But according to Guangzhou-based lawyer Ouyang Jintong, who specializes in gender issues, subsequent interactions should not influence the judgment about actions at the time of the alleged incident. However, she notes that there have been cases when judges have ruled against women because of such things.

Wu was able to gloss over questions or comments about his private life involving over a dozen young women in 2016 by wearing it as a badge of honor after being dubbed as the "king of one-night stands "and turning scandal into gossip-magazine fodder, indicating that many young people have a tolerant attitude to one-night stands as long as a third party doesn't get hurt and it does not break the law.

Liu Wenli, professor at Beijing Normal University who specializes in sexuality education, comments on Sina Weibo that, in a sexual sense, some men want to assert dominance over their partner, and women have a tendency to please them at the expense of their own feelings and boundaries.

In that sense, Du's posts revealing Wu's unsatisfying sexual performance also aroused furor online, subjecting Wu to the harshest social punishment that a "king of one-night stands" could endure－outside of any possible legal sanctions in the near future, at least.

Although the country has put a lot of effort into cracking down on prostitution and the solicitation of such services, it can be difficult－particularly in circles of power or celebrity－to distinguish an intimate relationship from that of a casual sex partnership or one-night stand from some form of prostitution. There are loopholes that can be abused to facilitate covert sexual exchanges, or to help exonerate someone from a charge such as sexual exploitation, likely masquerading as a supposed "voluntary, equal partnership".

Or, as for pop stars and young idols, their public images may mislead their fans as to who they truly are, and their stardom can be deceptive in a private interaction.

"For people with a partner who has more power and social resources and are confused with the relationship, my suggestion is: do your best to stand up for your rights, express your true feelings, and protect yourself well," Liu says.

Sheng Jianying, mother of a teenage daughter in Beijing, says it's important for parents to help children build an awareness of how to protect themselves when they leave the house and to set up a solid, positive value system of whom it's worthwhile building relationships with, platonic or otherwise.

"There are so many voices telling women to be cautious, but not so many teaching men how they should perceive women as independent, rational individuals and especially not as sexual objects," says the lawyer Ouyang, adding that men should not abuse the privilege they often enjoy in society, and both genders should learn how to respect and better communicate with each other as part of sex education.

Contact the writer at fangaiqing@chinadaily.com.cn