You accepting her application?
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Serious Super Chio ATB Fan BingBing Made Disappeared by Communist Party
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You accepting her application?
no way. her nonok has a prc pubic security surveillance cam installed.
Nine
Fan Bingbing seen for first time after fans feared she had been 'disappeared' by the Chinese
10:42am Oct 18, 2018
Play Video
Fan Bingbing seen for first time since disappearance
1 / 20
><
Chinese film star Fan Bingbing has appeared in public for the first time since she vanished without a trace three months ago.
Her legion of fans will be relieved after rumours that she had been "disappeared" by the Chinese Communist Party.
In a video posted by Baidu News and shared on Chinese social media site Weibo, Fan was shown leaving Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday night, wearing dark glasses to hide her face and followed by a man with a large black umbrella.
Fan Bingbing spotted at Beijing International Airport on Monday night wearing dark glasses and cap. (Supplied)
Despite her attempts to slip under the radar, the 37-year-old actress was caught on camera by paparazzi photographers.
Fan is among China's best known film stars, commanding million-dollar contracts for her performances in dozens of Chinese productions. She has also appeared in large international film franchises, such as X-Men.
But after allegations of tax avoidance by Fan were aired on Chinese social media in June, the high-profile actress disappeared from public life without a statement or explanation.
Fan Bingbing is one of China's most famous actresses, and appeared alongside Hugh Jackman in X-Men. (AP)
Experts speculated she had been put into detention by the Chinese government while the tax allegations against her were investigated, a worrying development given her huge public profile and international standing.
RELATED ARTICLES
On October 2, the Chinese government announced Fan had been fined for tax evasion, using multiple contracts to hide large secret additional salaries for her performances.
The actress went missing in June after allegations of tax avoidance first aired. (AAP)
Fan had to pay $130 million, according to the government, which included $42 million in late taxes and fees. Because she was a first-time offender, the government said there would be no criminal charges filed.
The actress posted an apology to her official social media accounts, saying she "completely accepts" the decision of the tax authorities.
She has since issued a public apology and according to the government paid a $130m settlement. (AAP)
"Without the favourable polices of the Communist Party and state, without the love of the people, there would have been no Fan Bingbing," she added.
Despite her apology and fine, the controversy appears to still be affecting movie projects involving Fan.
There was speculation her latest film, "Air Strike," could be pulled in China after its director appeared to make a resigned statement on Weibo. The World War II film, produced by Mel Gibson, also stars Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2018
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Fan Bingbing seen for first time after fans feared she had been 'disappeared' by the Chinese
10:42am Oct 18, 2018
Play Video
Fan Bingbing seen for first time since disappearance
1 / 20
><
Chinese film star Fan Bingbing has appeared in public for the first time since she vanished without a trace three months ago.
Her legion of fans will be relieved after rumours that she had been "disappeared" by the Chinese Communist Party.
In a video posted by Baidu News and shared on Chinese social media site Weibo, Fan was shown leaving Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday night, wearing dark glasses to hide her face and followed by a man with a large black umbrella.
Despite her attempts to slip under the radar, the 37-year-old actress was caught on camera by paparazzi photographers.
Fan is among China's best known film stars, commanding million-dollar contracts for her performances in dozens of Chinese productions. She has also appeared in large international film franchises, such as X-Men.
But after allegations of tax avoidance by Fan were aired on Chinese social media in June, the high-profile actress disappeared from public life without a statement or explanation.
Experts speculated she had been put into detention by the Chinese government while the tax allegations against her were investigated, a worrying development given her huge public profile and international standing.
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On October 2, the Chinese government announced Fan had been fined for tax evasion, using multiple contracts to hide large secret additional salaries for her performances.
Fan had to pay $130 million, according to the government, which included $42 million in late taxes and fees. Because she was a first-time offender, the government said there would be no criminal charges filed.
The actress posted an apology to her official social media accounts, saying she "completely accepts" the decision of the tax authorities.
"Without the favourable polices of the Communist Party and state, without the love of the people, there would have been no Fan Bingbing," she added.
Despite her apology and fine, the controversy appears to still be affecting movie projects involving Fan.
There was speculation her latest film, "Air Strike," could be pulled in China after its director appeared to make a resigned statement on Weibo. The World War II film, produced by Mel Gibson, also stars Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2018
CONTACT USSend your photos, videos and stories to 9News[email protected]
Property News: What you can and can't change when renovating an apartment - domain.com.au
WE RECOMMEND
Three expert tips for good gut health9Honey | Kellogg's
The unexpected reason you keep getting sick9Honey | DURO-TUSS
Toyota Hilux & Landcruiser! New Diesel buttonCarAdvice
Tennis: Sam Stosur serves it straight to Serena...WWOS
A great NZ South Island deal is waiting for youTourism New Zealand
Get 75K Bonus Velocity Points. $3k min spend and...American Express
Does your bank have the best home loan rate?Tic:Toc
powered by plistaTOP STORIES
Royals feel the sand between their toes
an hour ago
MISSING JOURNALIST
Trump threatens 'very severe' consequences over alleged murder
an hour ago
UPDATED
Melbourne cabbies sue Uber for $500 million
2 hours ago
'Traumatised' Tiahleigh Palmer mum sues QLD government
22 minutes ago
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Film with Fan Bingbing, Bruce Willis cancelled after tax case
By AP| 1 day ago
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BEIJING (AP) — The director of Air Strike, featuring Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, says the film's release has been cancelled in the wake of her disappearance andconviction on tax evasion charges.
The World War II thriller, also starring Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody, was to have been released Oct. 26.
However, director Xiao Feng posted on his Weibo miniblog Wednesday that it was "time to let go" after eight years of work on the film.
Chinese tax authorities this month ordered Fan and companies she represents to pay taxes and penalties totaling $130 million, ending speculation over the fate of one of the country's highest-profile entertainersthree months after she disappeared from public view.
State media said Fan evaded taxes by using two separate contracts for her work on Air Strike.
Fan has starred in dozens of movies and TV series in China and is best known internationally for her role as Blink in 2014'sX-Men: Days of Future Past, a cameo in the Chinese version of Iron Man 3, and for star turns on the red carpet at Cannes as recently as May.
Before her disappearance, she had been booked to star with Penelope Cruz in the Hollywood film 355.
Fan posted an apology on her official Weibo account saying that she accepted the tax authorities' decision and would "try my best to overcome all difficulties and raise funds to pay back taxes and fines."
"I am unworthy of the trust of the society and let down the fans who love me," she wrote in her first update of her Weibo.com microblog since June 2.
Fan's disappearance coincided with a crackdown by Chinese authorities on high salaries for actors that can eat up much of the cost of a production. In June, regulators capped star pay at 40 percent of a TV show's entire production budget and 70 percent of the total paid to all the actors in a film.
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#Showbiz: I'm sorry, says Fan Bingbing on evading tax
OCTOBER 20, 2018 @ 4:30PM
BY TAHIR ALHAMZAH
Fan Bingbing has apologised for trying to evade paying taxes a few months ago.
KUALA LUMPUR: Internationally-acclaimed actress from China, Fan Bingbing has apologised for trying to evade paying taxes a few months ago.
The 37-year-old star, claimed to have “disappeared” after trying to pay taxes for the income earned from starring in the Xiao Feng-directed film Unbreakable Spirit, recently uploaded a video on Weibo (popular social media platform in China) apologising for her stunt.
“I felt very embarrassed for trying to evade paying taxes and admit that I shouldn’t have tried to break the law.
“As a celebrity, I should have been more careful in setting examples to the society and the entertainment industry’s community,” said the star of X-Men: Days Of Future in the video.
Fan also admitted that greed got the better of her and apologised for her actions.
The artiste also promised to give her full co-operation to the authorities investigating her case and promised to take full responsibility for it.
It was reported that a day after uploading the apology video, she had been released from a secret location where she was said to have been detained for investigation. Fan was also reported to have returned to her home in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Fan is scheduled to start filming her new film titled 355 soon. However, no official statement has been issued on whether she will still be involved in it or otherwise.
© 2018. NEW STRAITS TIMES PRESS (M) BERHAD (4485-H).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
OCTOBER 20, 2018 @ 4:30PM
BY TAHIR ALHAMZAH
Fan Bingbing has apologised for trying to evade paying taxes a few months ago.
KUALA LUMPUR: Internationally-acclaimed actress from China, Fan Bingbing has apologised for trying to evade paying taxes a few months ago.
The 37-year-old star, claimed to have “disappeared” after trying to pay taxes for the income earned from starring in the Xiao Feng-directed film Unbreakable Spirit, recently uploaded a video on Weibo (popular social media platform in China) apologising for her stunt.
“I felt very embarrassed for trying to evade paying taxes and admit that I shouldn’t have tried to break the law.
“As a celebrity, I should have been more careful in setting examples to the society and the entertainment industry’s community,” said the star of X-Men: Days Of Future in the video.
Fan also admitted that greed got the better of her and apologised for her actions.
The artiste also promised to give her full co-operation to the authorities investigating her case and promised to take full responsibility for it.
It was reported that a day after uploading the apology video, she had been released from a secret location where she was said to have been detained for investigation. Fan was also reported to have returned to her home in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Fan is scheduled to start filming her new film titled 355 soon. However, no official statement has been issued on whether she will still be involved in it or otherwise.
© 2018. NEW STRAITS TIMES PRESS (M) BERHAD (4485-H).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
High-profile disappearances raise concerns in Chi…:
Tax Fraudster 范冰冰 got exposed and reported of huge tax crimes.
She went missing for days, to DIG OUT FROM HER CUNT A BILLION YUAN￥to back-date-pay her tax to Xijinping, enough for Xijinping to build a big fleet of J-20 warplanes or dozens of NUKE ICBMs. I still think Xi should had her cunt locked up in prison cell to show example to peasants and other Tax Fraudsters and Rich Fat Cats like Jack Ass Ma.
She went missing for days, to DIG OUT FROM HER CUNT A BILLION YUAN￥to back-date-pay her tax to Xijinping, enough for Xijinping to build a big fleet of J-20 warplanes or dozens of NUKE ICBMs. I still think Xi should had her cunt locked up in prison cell to show example to peasants and other Tax Fraudsters and Rich Fat Cats like Jack Ass Ma.
With attitudes like these,,,what is the point of living and being a citizen of Ah tiong land,,when the Commies suka suka can just execute ppl or persecute ppl? its like facing the tyranny of the pappies only worse,,,
At least Xi doesn't go around pretending to be democratic.
No wonder despite ah tiong land being soo bagus, like worlds no 2 economy,,,can get rich , etc etc,,,the ppl still want to leave,,,,
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BRIEFING
Fan Bingbing is cheerleading for China over the South China Sea after the government disappeared her
ALEXANDRA MA
NOV 20, 2018, 10:10 PM
Getty Images/Weibo/Business Insider
A composite image showing Fan Bingbing before her disappearance, and the image she re-shared on social media, asserting Chinese dominance over the South China Sea and Taiwan.
China disappeared actress Fan Bingbing for three months earlier this year when she was accused of tax evasion.
She reappeared last month with a groveling apology to the Chinese government.
Over the weekend she published a post touting China’s controversial claims to the South China Sea and Taiwan.
It marks a striking conversion for Fan from pariah to effectively being a mouthpiece for China’s geopolitical ambitions.
Actress Fan Bingbing wrote a post touting China’s controversial territorial claims to the South China Sea, in her first appearance on social media since issuing a humiliating apology to Beijing for evading tax.
The actress disappeared from the public eye for three months earlier this year after she was accused of tax evasion. She broke her silence in early October with a groveling message to the Chinese government, which found that she signed a secret contract to avoid paying her taxes.
On Saturday the actress published her first post since the apology on popular microblogging site Weibo, which featured a map posted by China’s Communist Youth League of the country’s mainland, Taiwan, and a demarcated South China Sea with the Chinese flag imposed on it.
Fan added the caption: “China, without a bit missing!”
Read more:
The humbling of Fan Bingbing is a warning shot from China to anyone who thinks they can defy them
Fan bingbing south china sea weibo post
Fan Bingbing/Weibo
A screenshot of Fan’s Weibo post.
China controversially claims to own both the South China Sea and the self-governing island of Taiwan.
China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam all have claims in the South China Sea, many of which overlap. About $US3 trillion of shipborne trade passes through the area every year, making it a major economic and strategic prize.
Beijing’s claim to the South China Sea is marked by a dashed line, as can be seen in Fan’s post above. The more complicated web of territorial claims can be seen in this map:
Shayanne Gal/Samantha Lee/Business Insider
China is extremely defensive of its territorial claims in the sea. After a British warship sailed through waters claimed by China in September, the state-run China Daily warned that it could derail a future UK-China trade deal over the slight.
Last week US Vice President Mike Pence told Southeast Asian leaders that the South China Sea “doesn’t belong to any one nation,” and reportedly flew through the area in a move that likely riled Beijing.
Beijing also insists that Taiwan is part of China, even though the island nation has been self-governing for decades and considers itself an independent nation.
Taiwan claims that China uses economic partnerships to pressure countries to cut off diplomatic ties with it.
Read more:
China is waging war against a cafe because it served coffee to Taiwan’s president
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BRIEFING
Fan Bingbing is cheerleading for China over the South China Sea after the government disappeared her
ALEXANDRA MA
NOV 20, 2018, 10:10 PM
Getty Images/Weibo/Business Insider
A composite image showing Fan Bingbing before her disappearance, and the image she re-shared on social media, asserting Chinese dominance over the South China Sea and Taiwan.
China disappeared actress Fan Bingbing for three months earlier this year when she was accused of tax evasion.
She reappeared last month with a groveling apology to the Chinese government.
Over the weekend she published a post touting China’s controversial claims to the South China Sea and Taiwan.
It marks a striking conversion for Fan from pariah to effectively being a mouthpiece for China’s geopolitical ambitions.
Actress Fan Bingbing wrote a post touting China’s controversial territorial claims to the South China Sea, in her first appearance on social media since issuing a humiliating apology to Beijing for evading tax.
The actress disappeared from the public eye for three months earlier this year after she was accused of tax evasion. She broke her silence in early October with a groveling message to the Chinese government, which found that she signed a secret contract to avoid paying her taxes.
On Saturday the actress published her first post since the apology on popular microblogging site Weibo, which featured a map posted by China’s Communist Youth League of the country’s mainland, Taiwan, and a demarcated South China Sea with the Chinese flag imposed on it.
Fan added the caption: “China, without a bit missing!”
Read more:
The humbling of Fan Bingbing is a warning shot from China to anyone who thinks they can defy them
Fan bingbing south china sea weibo post
Fan Bingbing/Weibo
A screenshot of Fan’s Weibo post.
China controversially claims to own both the South China Sea and the self-governing island of Taiwan.
China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam all have claims in the South China Sea, many of which overlap. About $US3 trillion of shipborne trade passes through the area every year, making it a major economic and strategic prize.
Beijing’s claim to the South China Sea is marked by a dashed line, as can be seen in Fan’s post above. The more complicated web of territorial claims can be seen in this map:
Shayanne Gal/Samantha Lee/Business Insider
China is extremely defensive of its territorial claims in the sea. After a British warship sailed through waters claimed by China in September, the state-run China Daily warned that it could derail a future UK-China trade deal over the slight.
Last week US Vice President Mike Pence told Southeast Asian leaders that the South China Sea “doesn’t belong to any one nation,” and reportedly flew through the area in a move that likely riled Beijing.
Beijing also insists that Taiwan is part of China, even though the island nation has been self-governing for decades and considers itself an independent nation.
Taiwan claims that China uses economic partnerships to pressure countries to cut off diplomatic ties with it.
Read more:
China is waging war against a cafe because it served coffee to Taiwan’s president
NOW WATCH: Briefing videos
Business Insider Emails & Alerts
Site highlights each day to your inbox.
Email address
Join
Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Receive notifications straight to your phone.
Tagged In
bi graphics china china soft power defense-us fan bingbing news uk south china sea taiwan thewire
About
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Terms hi
I wonder how many got to fuck her just for her release
Not only that,,,she needs to get out from paying her tax bills,,,soo more sacrifices needed
Movie stars, Interpol’s Chief and more: A look at who went missing in China 2018
JANUARY 13, 201911:31am
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How China’s Rich and Famous Disappear
Yanan Wang for AP
news.com.au
It’s not uncommon for individuals who speak out against the government to disappear in China, but the scope of the “disappeared” has expanded since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2013.
Not only dissidents and activists, but also high-level officials, Marxists, foreigners and even a movie star — people who never publicly opposed the ruling Communist Party — have been whisked away by police to unknown destinations.
The widening dragnet throws into stark relief the lengths to which Xi’s administration is willing to go to maintain its control and authority.
A look at some of the people who went missing in 2018 at the hands of the Chinese state.
Fan Bingbing, who has not been seen since July 2018, at China Fashion Week in Beijing in 2013. Picture: Make Ralston.Source:AFP
FOREIGN PAWNS
China threatened “grave consequences” if Canada did not release hi-tech executive Meng Wanzhou, shortly after the Huawei chief financial officer was detained in Vancouver in December for possible extradition to the U.S.
The apparent consequences materialised within days, when two Canadian men went missing in China. Both turned up in the hands of state security on suspicion of endangering national security, a nebulous category of crimes that has been levied against foreigners in recent years.
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig was taken by authorities from a Beijing street late in the evening, a person familiar with his case said.
He is allowed one consular visit a month and has not been granted access to a lawyer, as is standard for state security cases.
–– ADVERTISEMENT ––
Also detained is Michael Spavor, who organises tours to North Korea from the border city of Dandong. China has not said whether their detentions are related to Meng’s, but a similar scenario unfolded in the past.
A Canadian couple was detained in 2014 on national security grounds shortly after Canada arrested Su Bin, a Chinese man wanted for industrial espionage in the U.S.
Like Spavor, Kevin and Julia Garratt lived in Dandong, where they ran a popular coffee shop for nearly a decade. They also worked with a Christian charity that provided food to North Korean refugees.
While Julia Garratt was released on bail, her husband was held for more than two years before he was deported in September 2016 — about two months after Su pleaded guilty in the U.S.
Michael Kovrig was detained by Chinese authorities and has been denied access to a lawyer.Source:AP
TAX-EVADING ACTOR
Fan Bingbing was living every starlet’s dream.
Since a breakthrough role at the age of 17, Fan has headlined dozens of movies and TV series, and parlayed her success into modelling, fashion design and other ventures that have made her one of the highest-paid celebrities in the world.
All this made her a potent icon of China’s economic success, until authorities reminded Fan — and her legion of admirers — that even she was not untouchable.
For about four months, Fan vanished from public view. Her Weibo social media account, which has more than 63 million followers, fell silent.
Her management office in Beijing was vacated. Her birthday on September 16 came and went with only a handful of greetings from entertainment notables.
When she finally resurfaced, it was to apologise.
“I sincerely apologise to society, to the friends who love and care for me, to the people, and to the country’s tax bureau,” Fan said in a letter posted on Weibo on October 3.
She admitted to tax evasion. State news agency Xinhua reported that Fan and the companies she represents had been ordered to pay taxes and penalties totalling 900 million yuan ($181.1 million).
“Without the party and the country’s great policies, without the people’s loving care, there would be no Fan Bingbing,” she wrote, a cautionary tale for other Chinese celebrities.
Xinhua concurred in a commentary on her case: “Everyone is equal before the law, there are no “superstars” or “big shots.” No one can despise the law and hope to be lucky.”
Before her disappearance, Fan Bingbing apologised to the public and to the Chinese tax bureau. Picture: Joel C RyanSource:AP
SECURITY INSIDER
Unlike most swallowed up by China’s opaque security apparatuses, Meng Hongwei knew exactly what to expect.
Meng, no relation to the Huawei executive, is a vice minister of public security who was serving as head of Interpol, the France-based organisation that facilitates police co-operation across borders.
When he was appointed to the top post, human rights groups expressed concern that China would used Interpol as a tool to rein in political enemies around the world.
Instead, he was captured by the same security forces he represented.
In September, Meng became the latest high-ranking official caught in Xi’s banner anti-corruption campaign. The initiative is a major reason for the Chinese leader’s broad popularity, but he has been accused of using it to eliminate political rivals.
XI pledged to confront both high-level “tigers” and low-level “flies” in his crackdown on graft — a promise he has fulfilled by ensnaring prominent officials.
Meng was missing for weeks, before Chinese authorities said he was being investigated for taking bribes and other crimes. A Chinese delegation delivered a resignation letter from Meng to Interpol headquarters.
His wife Grace Meng told the AP that she does not believe the charges against her husband. The last message he sent her was an emoji of a knife.
Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol disappeared after travelling through China at the end of September in 2018. Picture: Roslan RahmanSource:AFP
DARING PHOTOGRAPHER
Lu Guang made his mark photographing the everyday lives of HIV patients in central China. They were poor villagers who had contracted the virus after selling their own blood to eke out a living — at a going rate of $7 a pint, they told Lu.
A former factory worker, Lu traversed China’s vast reaches to capture reality at its margins. He explored environmental degradation, industrial pollution and other gritty topics generally avoided by Chinese journalists, who risk punishment if they pursue stories considered to be sensitive or overly critical.
His work won him major accolades such as the World Press Photo prize, but his prominence likely also put him on the government’s radar.
This November, Lu was travelling through Xinjiang, the far west region that has deployed a vast security network in the name of fighting terrorism. He was participating in an exchange with other photographers, after which he was to meet a friend in nearby Sichuan province. He never showed up.
More than a month after he disappeared, his family was notified that he had been arrested in Xinjiang, according to his wife Xu Xiaoli. She declined to elaborate on the nature of the charges.
Cows roam around former coal mining sites in Mongolia in a photo by Lu Guang.Source:Instagram
STUDENT MARXIST
In the past, the political activists jailed in China were primarily those who fought for democracy and an end to one-party rule. They posed a direct ideological threat to the Communist Party.
This year, the party locked in on a surprising new target: young Marxists.
About 50 students and recent graduates of the country’s most prestigious universities convened in August in Shenzhen, an electronics manufacturing hub, to rally for factory workers attempting to form a union.
Among them was Yue Xin, a 20-something fresh out of Peking University. Earlier this year, she made headlines by calling for the elite school to release the results of its investigation into a decades-old rape case.
This time, she was one of the most vocal leaders of the labour rights group, appearing in photographs with her fist up in a Marxist salute and wearing a T-shirt that said “Unity is strength” — the name of a patriotic Chinese communist song.
Yue, a passionate student of Marx and Mao Zedong, espoused the same values as the party. She wrote an open letter to XI and the party’s central leadership saying all the students wanted was justice for Jasic Technology labourers.
Her letter quoted Xi’s own remarks: “We must adhere to the guiding position of Marxism.” Yue called Marx “our mentor” and likened the ideas of him and Mao to spiritual sustenance.
Nonetheless, she ended up among those rounded up in a raid on the apartment the activists were staying at in Shenzhen. While most have been released, Yue remains unaccounted for. She has been missing for four months.
- Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report
JANUARY 13, 201911:31am
Play Video
Play
0:00
/
3:01
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
Fullscreen
How China’s Rich and Famous Disappear
Yanan Wang for AP
news.com.au
It’s not uncommon for individuals who speak out against the government to disappear in China, but the scope of the “disappeared” has expanded since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2013.
Not only dissidents and activists, but also high-level officials, Marxists, foreigners and even a movie star — people who never publicly opposed the ruling Communist Party — have been whisked away by police to unknown destinations.
The widening dragnet throws into stark relief the lengths to which Xi’s administration is willing to go to maintain its control and authority.
A look at some of the people who went missing in 2018 at the hands of the Chinese state.
Fan Bingbing, who has not been seen since July 2018, at China Fashion Week in Beijing in 2013. Picture: Make Ralston.Source:AFP
FOREIGN PAWNS
China threatened “grave consequences” if Canada did not release hi-tech executive Meng Wanzhou, shortly after the Huawei chief financial officer was detained in Vancouver in December for possible extradition to the U.S.
The apparent consequences materialised within days, when two Canadian men went missing in China. Both turned up in the hands of state security on suspicion of endangering national security, a nebulous category of crimes that has been levied against foreigners in recent years.
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig was taken by authorities from a Beijing street late in the evening, a person familiar with his case said.
He is allowed one consular visit a month and has not been granted access to a lawyer, as is standard for state security cases.
–– ADVERTISEMENT ––
Also detained is Michael Spavor, who organises tours to North Korea from the border city of Dandong. China has not said whether their detentions are related to Meng’s, but a similar scenario unfolded in the past.
A Canadian couple was detained in 2014 on national security grounds shortly after Canada arrested Su Bin, a Chinese man wanted for industrial espionage in the U.S.
Like Spavor, Kevin and Julia Garratt lived in Dandong, where they ran a popular coffee shop for nearly a decade. They also worked with a Christian charity that provided food to North Korean refugees.
While Julia Garratt was released on bail, her husband was held for more than two years before he was deported in September 2016 — about two months after Su pleaded guilty in the U.S.
Michael Kovrig was detained by Chinese authorities and has been denied access to a lawyer.Source:AP
TAX-EVADING ACTOR
Fan Bingbing was living every starlet’s dream.
Since a breakthrough role at the age of 17, Fan has headlined dozens of movies and TV series, and parlayed her success into modelling, fashion design and other ventures that have made her one of the highest-paid celebrities in the world.
All this made her a potent icon of China’s economic success, until authorities reminded Fan — and her legion of admirers — that even she was not untouchable.
For about four months, Fan vanished from public view. Her Weibo social media account, which has more than 63 million followers, fell silent.
Her management office in Beijing was vacated. Her birthday on September 16 came and went with only a handful of greetings from entertainment notables.
When she finally resurfaced, it was to apologise.
“I sincerely apologise to society, to the friends who love and care for me, to the people, and to the country’s tax bureau,” Fan said in a letter posted on Weibo on October 3.
She admitted to tax evasion. State news agency Xinhua reported that Fan and the companies she represents had been ordered to pay taxes and penalties totalling 900 million yuan ($181.1 million).
“Without the party and the country’s great policies, without the people’s loving care, there would be no Fan Bingbing,” she wrote, a cautionary tale for other Chinese celebrities.
Xinhua concurred in a commentary on her case: “Everyone is equal before the law, there are no “superstars” or “big shots.” No one can despise the law and hope to be lucky.”
Before her disappearance, Fan Bingbing apologised to the public and to the Chinese tax bureau. Picture: Joel C RyanSource:AP
SECURITY INSIDER
Unlike most swallowed up by China’s opaque security apparatuses, Meng Hongwei knew exactly what to expect.
Meng, no relation to the Huawei executive, is a vice minister of public security who was serving as head of Interpol, the France-based organisation that facilitates police co-operation across borders.
When he was appointed to the top post, human rights groups expressed concern that China would used Interpol as a tool to rein in political enemies around the world.
Instead, he was captured by the same security forces he represented.
In September, Meng became the latest high-ranking official caught in Xi’s banner anti-corruption campaign. The initiative is a major reason for the Chinese leader’s broad popularity, but he has been accused of using it to eliminate political rivals.
XI pledged to confront both high-level “tigers” and low-level “flies” in his crackdown on graft — a promise he has fulfilled by ensnaring prominent officials.
Meng was missing for weeks, before Chinese authorities said he was being investigated for taking bribes and other crimes. A Chinese delegation delivered a resignation letter from Meng to Interpol headquarters.
His wife Grace Meng told the AP that she does not believe the charges against her husband. The last message he sent her was an emoji of a knife.
Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol disappeared after travelling through China at the end of September in 2018. Picture: Roslan RahmanSource:AFP
DARING PHOTOGRAPHER
Lu Guang made his mark photographing the everyday lives of HIV patients in central China. They were poor villagers who had contracted the virus after selling their own blood to eke out a living — at a going rate of $7 a pint, they told Lu.
A former factory worker, Lu traversed China’s vast reaches to capture reality at its margins. He explored environmental degradation, industrial pollution and other gritty topics generally avoided by Chinese journalists, who risk punishment if they pursue stories considered to be sensitive or overly critical.
His work won him major accolades such as the World Press Photo prize, but his prominence likely also put him on the government’s radar.
This November, Lu was travelling through Xinjiang, the far west region that has deployed a vast security network in the name of fighting terrorism. He was participating in an exchange with other photographers, after which he was to meet a friend in nearby Sichuan province. He never showed up.
More than a month after he disappeared, his family was notified that he had been arrested in Xinjiang, according to his wife Xu Xiaoli. She declined to elaborate on the nature of the charges.
Cows roam around former coal mining sites in Mongolia in a photo by Lu Guang.Source:Instagram
STUDENT MARXIST
In the past, the political activists jailed in China were primarily those who fought for democracy and an end to one-party rule. They posed a direct ideological threat to the Communist Party.
This year, the party locked in on a surprising new target: young Marxists.
About 50 students and recent graduates of the country’s most prestigious universities convened in August in Shenzhen, an electronics manufacturing hub, to rally for factory workers attempting to form a union.
Among them was Yue Xin, a 20-something fresh out of Peking University. Earlier this year, she made headlines by calling for the elite school to release the results of its investigation into a decades-old rape case.
This time, she was one of the most vocal leaders of the labour rights group, appearing in photographs with her fist up in a Marxist salute and wearing a T-shirt that said “Unity is strength” — the name of a patriotic Chinese communist song.
Yue, a passionate student of Marx and Mao Zedong, espoused the same values as the party. She wrote an open letter to XI and the party’s central leadership saying all the students wanted was justice for Jasic Technology labourers.
Her letter quoted Xi’s own remarks: “We must adhere to the guiding position of Marxism.” Yue called Marx “our mentor” and likened the ideas of him and Mao to spiritual sustenance.
Nonetheless, she ended up among those rounded up in a raid on the apartment the activists were staying at in Shenzhen. While most have been released, Yue remains unaccounted for. She has been missing for four months.
- Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report
No need to pay. Continue to fuck all of them can already
Chinese celebrities pay $2.3 billion in back taxes after Fan Bingbing scandal
PHOTO: The Star/ Asia News Network
REUTERS
Jan 23, 2019
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LOS ANGELES - Chinese film and TV stars have paid some $1.7 billion (S$2.3 billion) of additional taxes, following the mid-2018 scandal surrounding actress Fan Bingbing. The figure was announced Tuesday by China's State Tax Administration.
Chinese authorities launched a probe into the taxation affairs of the entertainment sector in October. Companies and individuals were asked to examine and self correct their post-2016 tax affairs, by the end of December last year. Those that complied would be exempt from further penalties for tax evasion, the Tax Administration said.
In July last year, Fan was accused of hiding a proportion of her income on a film production through use of multiple contracts, only some of which would be declared to the tax authorities. It also emerged that she had set up companies in the regions in order to made use of lower tax regimes offered by some of China's provinces.
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In October, after going missing from public view for months, Fan resurfaced. She apologised and was ordered to pay $130 million of back taxes and penalties on behalf of herself and her companies.
The huge scale of the other celebrities' unpaid tax bill - the number equates to roughly 20 per cent of China's gross box office last year - reinforces the argument that the use double contracts and tax loopholes was widespread throughout the Chinese entertainment industry. The number of productions initiated in China slowed sharply from the summer as production companies and talent reassessed their financial relationships.
"Industry workers should practise socialist core values ... and strive to be entertainment workers with belief, empathy and sense of responsibility in the new era," authorities said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
PHOTO: The Star/ Asia News Network
REUTERS
Jan 23, 2019
FacebookTwitterGoogle+Email
LOS ANGELES - Chinese film and TV stars have paid some $1.7 billion (S$2.3 billion) of additional taxes, following the mid-2018 scandal surrounding actress Fan Bingbing. The figure was announced Tuesday by China's State Tax Administration.
Chinese authorities launched a probe into the taxation affairs of the entertainment sector in October. Companies and individuals were asked to examine and self correct their post-2016 tax affairs, by the end of December last year. Those that complied would be exempt from further penalties for tax evasion, the Tax Administration said.
In July last year, Fan was accused of hiding a proportion of her income on a film production through use of multiple contracts, only some of which would be declared to the tax authorities. It also emerged that she had set up companies in the regions in order to made use of lower tax regimes offered by some of China's provinces.
ADVERTISING
In October, after going missing from public view for months, Fan resurfaced. She apologised and was ordered to pay $130 million of back taxes and penalties on behalf of herself and her companies.
The huge scale of the other celebrities' unpaid tax bill - the number equates to roughly 20 per cent of China's gross box office last year - reinforces the argument that the use double contracts and tax loopholes was widespread throughout the Chinese entertainment industry. The number of productions initiated in China slowed sharply from the summer as production companies and talent reassessed their financial relationships.
"Industry workers should practise socialist core values ... and strive to be entertainment workers with belief, empathy and sense of responsibility in the new era," authorities said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Hidden details of actress Fan Bingbing’s mysterious lost months
APRIL 17, 20197:14am
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How China’s Rich and Famous Disappear
Alexis Carey
news.com.au
Fan Bingbing may not be a household name in the West, but she’s one of the biggest — and best paid — superstars on the planet.
The 37-year-old has been a stalwart of the Chinese film industry for two decades and has appeared in dozens of local and international flicks, including Iron Man 3 and X-Men: Days Of Future Past.
During her glittering career, she has amassed a cult-like following, thanks to her creative talent, legendary beauty and tireless work ethic.
But in July last year, one of the world’s most famous women simply vanished.
THE DISAPPEARANCE
In May 2018, well-known former Chinese TV presenter Cui Yongyuan seemed to subtly implicate Fan in tax evasion after sharing two contracts for one of her upcoming movies.
One reportedly showed a $US1.6 million ($A2.2 million) salary to be reported to the tax authorities, while the second revealed an actual payment of $US7.8 million ($A10.9 million), although Fan’s name wasn’t specifically mentioned.
For three months, there was no trace of Chinese moviestar Fan Bingbing. Picture: John Phillips/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
Dual contracts, known as “yin and yang” contracts, are apparently rife in the Chinese film industry as a tool for avoiding taxes, and the scandal prompted the government to investigate and crack down on violations.
Fan’s last public appearance was on July 1 that year when she visited a children’s hospital, while her last post on Weibo — the Chinese equivalent of Twitter — was on July 23.
For months, Fan was neither seen nor heard about, with speculation about her welfare running wild.
THE APOLOGY
Finally, on October 3, Fan abruptly reappeared by issuing a grovelling apology to her family, fans and country in an official statement.
“I feel ashamed that I committed tax evasion in Unbreakable Spirit (also known as Air Strike) and other projects by taking advantage of split contracts,” the statement read.
“Throughout these days of my co-operation with the taxation authorities’ investigation of my accounts as well as my company’s, I have realised that, as a public figure, I should’ve observed the law, setting a good example for society and the industry.
“I shouldn’t have lost my ability to govern myself in the face of economic interests, leading myself to break the law.
The 37-year-old starred alongside Hugh Jackman in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
“Here I sincerely apologise to society, friends who care about me, the public and the taxation authorities.
“I completely accept the penalties given by the taxation authorities after their thorough investigation. I will follow the final order given by the taxation authorities and will do my best to raise funds to pay back the taxes and fines.”
But despite Fan’s explanation, little was known about her lost months — until now.
THE LOST MONTHS
In a lengthy investigation published recently in Vanity Fair, reporter May Jeong revealed fresh details about Fan’s whereabouts during that time.
The South China Morning Postpreviously reported the star had been detained under “residential surveillance” at a holiday resort — a policy introduced in 2012 that allows the state’s secret police to essentially kidnap rulebreakers for up to six months and prevent contact with the outside world.
Fan is regularly listed as the highest-paid celebrity in the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
According to Vanity Fair, Fan was captured by “plainclothes police” and barred from speaking publicly or using her phone, with access to pen and paper withheld. She endured a near-total lack of privacy — “even when taking showers”.
On the day she issued her public statement, authorities revealed Fan had been ordered to repay “US$131 million ($A183 million) in back taxes and penalties”, Ms Jeong reported.
WHY FAN WAS TARGETED:
As chilling as Fan’s disappearance was, it is just the tip of the iceberg, according to Vanity Fair.
The publication claimed the Chinese government’s sudden crackdown on the film industry was the result of the nation’s slowing economy and a bid to “redirect economic power back under state control”, with many believing the intense scrutiny will soon spread to other areas.
In fact, since President Xi Jinping last March launched the National Supervision Commission — a powerful body tasked with looking into corruption and tax dodging — “tens of thousands” of people have “disappeared”, just like Fan.
President Xi Jinping is clamping down on tax evasion. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
Late last year, tax authorities announced a deadline of December 31 for film companies to repay unpaid taxes on unreported income without further punishment.
But from January 1, those who hadn’t co-operated would be “dealt with seriously”.
The ominous announcement reportedly left movie insiders scrambling — and with the practice of “yin and yang” contracts apparently rampant in China, it may be just a matter of time before more famous faces disappear.
Continue the conversation@carey_alexis |[email protected]
APRIL 17, 20197:14am
Play Video
Play
0:00
/
3:01
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
Fullscreen
How China’s Rich and Famous Disappear
Alexis Carey
news.com.au
Fan Bingbing may not be a household name in the West, but she’s one of the biggest — and best paid — superstars on the planet.
The 37-year-old has been a stalwart of the Chinese film industry for two decades and has appeared in dozens of local and international flicks, including Iron Man 3 and X-Men: Days Of Future Past.
During her glittering career, she has amassed a cult-like following, thanks to her creative talent, legendary beauty and tireless work ethic.
But in July last year, one of the world’s most famous women simply vanished.
THE DISAPPEARANCE
In May 2018, well-known former Chinese TV presenter Cui Yongyuan seemed to subtly implicate Fan in tax evasion after sharing two contracts for one of her upcoming movies.
One reportedly showed a $US1.6 million ($A2.2 million) salary to be reported to the tax authorities, while the second revealed an actual payment of $US7.8 million ($A10.9 million), although Fan’s name wasn’t specifically mentioned.
For three months, there was no trace of Chinese moviestar Fan Bingbing. Picture: John Phillips/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
Dual contracts, known as “yin and yang” contracts, are apparently rife in the Chinese film industry as a tool for avoiding taxes, and the scandal prompted the government to investigate and crack down on violations.
Fan’s last public appearance was on July 1 that year when she visited a children’s hospital, while her last post on Weibo — the Chinese equivalent of Twitter — was on July 23.
For months, Fan was neither seen nor heard about, with speculation about her welfare running wild.
THE APOLOGY
Finally, on October 3, Fan abruptly reappeared by issuing a grovelling apology to her family, fans and country in an official statement.
“I feel ashamed that I committed tax evasion in Unbreakable Spirit (also known as Air Strike) and other projects by taking advantage of split contracts,” the statement read.
“Throughout these days of my co-operation with the taxation authorities’ investigation of my accounts as well as my company’s, I have realised that, as a public figure, I should’ve observed the law, setting a good example for society and the industry.
“I shouldn’t have lost my ability to govern myself in the face of economic interests, leading myself to break the law.
The 37-year-old starred alongside Hugh Jackman in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
“Here I sincerely apologise to society, friends who care about me, the public and the taxation authorities.
“I completely accept the penalties given by the taxation authorities after their thorough investigation. I will follow the final order given by the taxation authorities and will do my best to raise funds to pay back the taxes and fines.”
But despite Fan’s explanation, little was known about her lost months — until now.
THE LOST MONTHS
In a lengthy investigation published recently in Vanity Fair, reporter May Jeong revealed fresh details about Fan’s whereabouts during that time.
The South China Morning Postpreviously reported the star had been detained under “residential surveillance” at a holiday resort — a policy introduced in 2012 that allows the state’s secret police to essentially kidnap rulebreakers for up to six months and prevent contact with the outside world.
Fan is regularly listed as the highest-paid celebrity in the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
According to Vanity Fair, Fan was captured by “plainclothes police” and barred from speaking publicly or using her phone, with access to pen and paper withheld. She endured a near-total lack of privacy — “even when taking showers”.
On the day she issued her public statement, authorities revealed Fan had been ordered to repay “US$131 million ($A183 million) in back taxes and penalties”, Ms Jeong reported.
WHY FAN WAS TARGETED:
As chilling as Fan’s disappearance was, it is just the tip of the iceberg, according to Vanity Fair.
The publication claimed the Chinese government’s sudden crackdown on the film industry was the result of the nation’s slowing economy and a bid to “redirect economic power back under state control”, with many believing the intense scrutiny will soon spread to other areas.
In fact, since President Xi Jinping last March launched the National Supervision Commission — a powerful body tasked with looking into corruption and tax dodging — “tens of thousands” of people have “disappeared”, just like Fan.
President Xi Jinping is clamping down on tax evasion. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
Late last year, tax authorities announced a deadline of December 31 for film companies to repay unpaid taxes on unreported income without further punishment.
But from January 1, those who hadn’t co-operated would be “dealt with seriously”.
The ominous announcement reportedly left movie insiders scrambling — and with the practice of “yin and yang” contracts apparently rampant in China, it may be just a matter of time before more famous faces disappear.
Continue the conversation@carey_alexis |[email protected]
