The Money-grabbing Storm Has Begun, Putting Li Xiang and Her Peers in Jeopardy

Li Xiang's last social media update was on December 28, 2025, where she attended a brand dinner with her daughter, Wang Shiling and He Chaolian. (Weibo image)

[People News] On January 16, Li Xiang, a former prominent host in mainland China with 24.56 million followers on Weibo and 4.21 million on Douyin, suddenly faced a "ban on following" across the internet. Just two days earlier, she had been present at a high-profile event celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. This rapid 48-hour turnaround reveals a financial narrative that goes far beyond mere entertainment gossip. Li Xiang's abrupt downfall is not an isolated case among mainland celebrities and internet influencers. The more popular someone is and the more they flaunt their wealth, the more perilous their situation becomes! This is due to the Chinese Communist Party's current financial crisis, which is prompting a "money grab"!

Li Xiang's last social media update was on December 28, 2025, where she attended a brand dinner with her daughter Wang Shiling and He Chaolian, radiating an aura of luxury and nobility, with no signs of trouble on the horizon. Following this, discussions surrounding wealth flaunting, tax evasion, and money laundering skyrocketed, with readings surpassing 5 billion and discussions exceeding 3 million within just 48 hours.

To begin with, we should outline some preparatory measures that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has implemented for its 'money-grabbing' initiatives. One such measure is the notice issued by the State Administration of Taxation, which reminds taxpayers to conduct self-assessments on income earned from abroad between 2022 and 2024. Recently, utilising big data systems, the authorities have systematically identified internet celebrities, stars, and wealthy individuals with overseas income, recovering tax payments totalling tens of billions of dollars in a short period. Additionally, in December of last year, the CCP's Cyberspace Administration released a notice titled 'Regarding the Regulation of Internet Celebrity Account Behaviour Management,' which included 'promoting ostentation and materialism' on its negative list.

Now, let’s consider Li Xiang. The public speculation surrounding her focuses on three main issues: ostentation, tax matters, and economic crimes, leading to an initial assessment that she has struck two targets.

Li Xiang's 'wealthy woman persona' has been sustained for many years, and she has never shied away from showcasing her lavish lifestyle on social media. This includes a wall filled with Hermès bags, a home stocked with bird's nest and cordyceps, and her daughter Wang Shiling attending an elite school, with expenditures on outfits ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, and receiving a Rolls-Royce as a gift upon reaching adulthood.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the average disposable income for urban residents is merely 36,000 yuan per year. Given such a stark disparity, it is hard to overlook Li Xiang's ostentation without taking action.

The second, more serious speculation revolves around tax and business compliance issues. Public records indicate that Li Xiang was once linked to 20 companies, and by January 2026, 14 of these had been deregistered, resulting in a deregistration rate of 70%. Notably, she registered a new company named 'Mango Chuangzhan' with a registered capital of 80 million yuan in September 2025, and just three months later, she focused on deregistering several affiliated companies. This unusual activity has sparked widespread concerns in the market regarding her tax issues and the compliance of her capital flows. Furthermore, in 2025, Li Xiang hosted 93 live-streaming sales events, with an average transaction value of approximately 4.2 million yuan per event, bringing her total sales close to 400 million yuan. The tax dealings in the live-streaming sales sector are notoriously complex, and given that this period from December to January is a peak time for tax inspections, the credibility of these speculations has significantly increased.

The State Administration of Taxation of the Communist Party of China has also publicly highlighted two typical cases, sending a clear message: those who are popular and have high traffic are at risk.

The first individual named is Chongqing's leading internet anchor, Peng Xuan, who boasts over 30 million followers. The tax authorities found through big data analysis that her video likes and traffic data from 2021 to 2023 were significantly inconsistent with the taxes she reported. As a result, she was required to pay back taxes, late fees, and fines totalling 4.15 million yuan.

Chongqing's leading internet anchor Peng Xuan. (Image from the internet)

The second case involves Yang Suiwa, an online broadcaster from Tianshui, Gansu, who has nearly 300,000 followers. According to official statements, authorities received a report, and upon investigation, it was revealed that her live-streaming popularity soared from 2022 to 2024, yet she only declared an income of 230,000 yuan. Consequently, the tax authorities calculated and demanded that she pay an additional tax of 1.81 million yuan.

How many cases have gone unnamed? Data released by the General Administration of Taxation of the Communist Party of China indicates that in the first 11 months leading up to 2025, the mainland investigated 1,818 so-called 'high-income groups'—high-income, high-net-worth individuals, primarily among celebrities, internet influencers, and the wealthy, resulting in a total of 1.523 billion yuan in back taxes collected.

One particularly striking case is that of internet celebrity Zhou Zhenkeai, who boasts 50 million followers. A cultural media company associated with her in Guangdong was required to pay back taxes of 16.59 million yuan in a single payment, along with a fine of 8.29 million yuan, totalling 24.88 million yuan.

This situation reflects an increasingly evident reality: the Chinese Communist Party's economy is facing a severe downturn, necessitating funds from internet celebrities and the affluent to address the fiscal shortfall.

Now, let’s examine a few more statistics.

On December 17, the Ministry of Finance of the Communist Party of China published the fiscal revenue and expenditure report for January to November 2025. The national tax revenue amounted to 16.48 trillion yuan, showing only a 1.8% year-on-year increase. In contrast, personal income tax surged by 11.5%, reaching 1.47 trillion yuan, marking a historical high. This indicates that individuals' 'money-making efficiency' significantly surpasses that of typical economic activities. Thus, this tax investigation wave, framed as a big data initiative, is likely just beginning.

Analysts suggest that the significant economic decline has triggered a comprehensive financial crisis for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Ordinary citizens are being increasingly exploited, leaving them with minimal resources. In response, the CCP is focusing on internet influencers, celebrities, and affluent individuals, aiming ultimately to sustain its fragile hold on power.
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