Tan Qindong incident
The Tan Qindong incident refers to an event on January 10, 2018, when Tan Qindong, a Guangzhou-based doctor, was detained by police from Liangcheng County, Inner Mongolia after he posted online that Hongmao Medicinal Liquor was “toxic.” The post criticized Hongmao’s tonic, which lists more than 60 traditional ingredients and is advertised as boosting kidney and stomach function and curing many diseases. China’s Article 221 makes it a crime to say things that seriously damage a company’s reputation.
Police said Tan caused about 800,000 yuan in refunds and harmed the company’s image, and they obtained his ID number and phone from the online platform. He was taken from Guangzhou to Shenzhen and then Beijing, and held in detention with a company executive, accompanied by three officers. His detention was requested on January 18 and approved on January 25, after which he remained in a detention center. He reportedly experienced psychological distress and suicidal thoughts during detention. He was released on bail after prosecutors found insufficient evidence, though the case remained open and possible compensation could follow if charges were dropped.
The case drew attention to concerns that authorities sometimes intervene in civil disputes involving big businesses, which critics say represents an overreach of power. Some commentators noted that freedom of speech and oversight are fundamental rights, while others described the move as an overstep by authorities.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:03 (CET).