China’s Self-Proclaimed “Most Prominent Philanthropist” Sues Media for Defamation

Self-proclaimed “China’s most prominent philanthropist” Chen Guangbiao has filed suit against two Chinese media outlets, Caixin Media and NetEase, for their special reports published on Tuesday. Founder of the China Huangpu Renewable Resources Utilization Group, Chen frequently makes headlines both at home and abroad through highly publicized, occasionally eccentric philanthropy.

(Chen Guangbiao, file photo)

Caixin.com conducted an investigation into the many claims previously made by Chen, like saying that from 1998 to 2012, his philanthropic donations exceeded 2 billion yuan (some $150 million). The report quoted an anonymous source as saying the real number is, “no more than 30 million yuan,” which is approximately $5 million.

Chen first made headlines in China for his involvement in rescue efforts following the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. According to a Washington Post report, the “China Earthquake Rescue Hero” reportedly brought a team of 100 colleagues and 60 excavators to help rescue victims. Chen has gone on record as saying he carried over 200 bodies from the wreckage.

(Chen Guangbiao's Business Card, file photo)

Chen also attempted to make headlines elsewhere. Since 2008, he’s attempted to buy the New York Times, provided lunch for over 200 homeless Americans in NYC, and handed out envelopes of cash to people “in need” on the streets of Taiwan.

(Chen Guangbiao handed money to a man in NYC in 2014, file photo)

The publicity surrounding his eccentric philanthropic means has attracted the attention of countless media outlets. Chen responded to the media reports by posting on his Sina Weibo account on Wednesday, saying he would sue. A court in Nanjing, China’s eastern Jiangsu province, has accepted the lawsuit against Caixin Media, Xinhua reported on Tuesday. The indictment demanded the court force Caixin Media to stop publishing articles “detrimental to Chen’s reputation”. Additionally, Chen’s requested Caixin fork over one million yuan ($150,078) in defamation damages. 

Chen held a press conference at his company’s headquarters on Friday to address the accusations. According to multiple news outlets, Chen spoke for 40-minutes, constantly referencing a stack of “finance books” on a table in front of him. “You can take them and make a summary,” he told a room of journalists. But Chen refused to take questions from any of the reporters in attendance.

Sohu.com reported that a reporter from Xinhua News Agency began arguing with one of Chen’s “brokers.” The reporter is reportedly “pushed into an elevator where the broker attempted to physically assault him.”

Chen has repeatedly told media outlets that the event was a press announcement, and not a press conference whereby journalists could ask questions.