China to clamp down on massage parlors in bid to fight sex trade

China has proposed rules to increase inspections of massage parlors in a bid to stamp out a spreading sex trade, state media said Saturday.

The China Daily newspaper reported the draft rules, proposed by the Ministry of Commerce, meant all public bathhouses would have "to make their premises more accessible to public inspections in a bid to fight the growing sex trade."

It said all massage rooms in bathhouses must be open to view from the outside, and that foot massage parlors keep their doors unlocked when a customer is using a cubicle.

China has a booming sex trade, with massage parlors common on street corners.

The newspaper said the draft rules had been posted on the ministry's Web site to solicit public opinion before Sept. 10.

It said the rules were being beefed up to "combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in public places."

Last month, commerce and health authorities ordered all hotels, resorts and public bath houses in China to provide condom-dispensing machines.

Shanghai introduced regulations last year requiring all bath houses and hairdressing saloons to have clear glass windows, the newspaper said.