Last week, Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei, best known for his design of the ‘Birds Nest’ stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, told news outlets that the Chinese government is forcing him to pay $2.4 million in back taxes, which was more than three times as much as what he was originally accused of owing. The government gave him 15 days to pay it all back.
On Sunday, Ai said that 20,000 people had contributed to his cause, helping him raise at least $840,000 towards the bill, according to the New York Times.
Ai told the Times that he has been receiving donations of varying sizes, most of which have been small. However, some have been in the range of thousands of dollars, including one businessman who offered him around $157,000. “It’s surprising; it has really changed my perspective on people,” he said.
According to Agence France-Presse, some supporters are even throwing cash into Ai’s coutryard at his home. "Every morning we have to pick up the money thrown into the courtyard. Sometimes they are folding it into planes or boats," he said.
In an editorial, China’s state newspaper, Global Times, criticized Ai for taking the donations and the supporters. The editorial calls it “illegal fundraising” and questions why he had to take donations if he can afford an appartment in Berlin. “Does he need to borrow money to pay off his tax evasion? However, as we are neither legal or tax professionals, these are not the key points we have tried to make,” the paper wrote.
Ai was taken prisoner by the Chinese government in April, which was answered by international outcry. He was eventually released in June and kept a low profile on the Internet as a condition of his bail. He has slowly come out of his shell, defying conditions to talk about this new tax bill imposed on him.