[File photo]

Filial piety has become a major catchphrase as lawmakers in Chongqing consider over a draft stipulating that children offer their parents “spiritual consolation” by visiting or calling the latter on a regular basis.

The draft was released on the local government’s official website on Feb. 6, and is now soliciting public opinions. According to the draft, children should visit or call their parents "more often." For those who live far away, the draft asks them to write letters or communicate through the internet.

The draft has provoked fierce online debate, with some netizens strongly opposing it, saying that filial piety should not be regulated by law. At the same time, others have praised the draft, stating that such a law can provide a legal basis to punish those who neglect their parents’ needs.

In response to public concern, Chongqing authorities told Beijing News that the draft is still in the process of soliciting public opinions and is unlikely to actually punish any offspring who fail to comply with the requirements.

“The draft is more like advocacy than a mandate. It’s inappropriate to use administrative means to interfere with family issues. Thus, we have not included punishment in the draft,” noted an anonymous source.

According to China’s Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, which was amended in 2015, adult children living apart from their elderly parents should visit frequently and keep in touch. The law does not include language outlining consequences for those who fail to follow the guidelines.

“The intention of the law should be praised, but it’s inappropriate to regulate parent-child relationships through legal channels, let alone to specify filial behavior,” said Wang Changqing, a Beijing-based lawyer.