A Beijing court has rejected an appeal by Ai Weiwei against 15 million yuan (€1.85 million) in back taxes, but China’s best known dissident-artist insists he has no intention of paying the fine, imposed after his release from detention last year.
His defiance could see him being arrested again if he does not pay the bill. Ai was arrested in March last year as part of an overall crackdown on dissent and held in solitary confinement for 81 days before being released without charges. Then the authorities billed him for taxes they said were owed by the company that promotes his work.
Some of the tax bill had already been paid because he had to place the money with the court to ensure he was granted an appeal. But Mr Ai said he has no intention of paying the remaining sum.
