Malaysian news outlet The Star reported that Chinese authorities have an open policy because they feel the products enhance the sex lives of couples, which then could potentially result in a more caring society.
Anne Semans, web marketing manager for toy retailer Babeland, told XBIZ she still dreams of a day when buying well-made sex toys isas easy as buying a pint of ice cream at a corner store.
"China’s a lot closer to making that a reality than we are in the U.S.," Semans said, "when shop owners are still being busted for selling dildos to adults in states like Texas."
Good Vibrations Head Buyer Coyote Days told XBIZ that though China's acceptance of manufacturing and selling adult toys brings up questions of labor practices, it's a step in the sex-positive direction.
"It’s great to see more and more countries opening their doors and minds to the adult market," Days said. "I hope that consumers in China are allowed access to sex-positive stores that offer sex education and product information as well as quality toys."
High-end toy manufacturer Lelo moved its factory from Sweden to Jiangsu province in 2005, and company CEO Filip Sedic said he believes more high-end shops will soon open in China, what he called a "very special market."
Chinese authorities released statistics that claim the country's 10-year-old adult industry has grossed more than $6 billion to date, and an upcoming Adult Care Expo 2007, an adult expo set to feature adult products from around the world, is scheduled Aug. 10-12 in Shanghai.
Adult video and print publications, however, still are banned by the government, and most adult products cannot be advertised in public.
Police recently arrested an owner of an online sex toy retailer for allegedly selling sex novels along with adult novelties.
The government launched an antiporn campaign in April in the hopes of eliminating all online pornography and obscenity. Internet porn already is illegal, and the campaign is aimed at improving filtering techniques and tightening the government's control over the Internet.