Ren is known for his criticism of Communist Party and government policies. As a property tycoon with forthright views he has been called "China's Donald Trump". On 7 May 2010 a protester threw a shoe at him. In Nov 2013 he threatened to sue the state
broadcasting company China Central Television (CCTV) after it reported that Huayuan Real Estate owed 54.9 billion yuan in unpaid tax, and in January 2014 he referred to CCTV as "the dumbest pig on earth". In Sept 2015 he caused online controversy in
China with a Weibo post criticising the Communist Youth League of China, the youth wing of the Communist Party.

In 2016, he openly challenged Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping's view that government media should toe the Party line. After Xi made an inspection tour of CCTV on 19 Feb 2016 during which journalists displayed a banner reading "CCTV's surname
is the Party. We are absolutely loyal. Please inspect us", Ren posted on Weibo: "When does the people’s government turn into the party’s government? [Are the media] funded by party membership dues? Don't waste taxpayers' money on things that do not
provide them with services." The tweet was subsequently deleted, but on 22 Feb 2016 state-affiliated media accused Ren of advocating the overthrow of the Communist Party. On 28 Feb, Ren's weibo accounts were blocked by the Cyberspace Administration of
China (CAC), for "spreading illegal information", cutting Ren off from an estimated 37 million web followers. A day later, the Xicheng District CPC Committee, where Ren's party membership is registered, vowed to punish him under party rules. On 2 May
2016, Ren was placed on a one-year probation within party.

In a Feb 2020 essay Ren criticised a speech given by Xi Jinping concerning the coronavirus pandemic, in which Ren "...saw not an emperor standing there exhibiting his 'new clothes', but a clown stripped naked who insisted on continuing being emperor". He
said that the lack of free press and freedom of speech had delayed the official response to the pandemic, worsening its impact. He disappeared on 12 March.

On 7 April 2020, the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Ren was being investigated for alleged "serious violations of law and discipline".

He Weifang said of the investigation: "It is hoped that the judicial authorities can handle this case strictly and in accordance with the law, and give a convincing demonstration of why the remarks constitute violations of the law and even crimes."

On 23 July 2020, he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party, paving the way for his criminal prosecution. On 22 Sept 2020, after a one-day trial, a Chinese court sentenced Ren to prison for 18 years on corruption charges.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_Zhiqiang

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