Luo Yonghao denies tax evasion allegations from investor Zheng Gang on Weibo
On September 27-28, 2024/2025, investor Zheng Gang publicly accused entrepreneur Luo Yonghao and his company Friends of major tax evasion via shell companies on Weibo. Luo denied the allegations, calling them defamation, and claimed Zheng is a discredited person under travel restrictions who posted from South Korea illegally. The dispute stems from a 15 million yuan loan and share buyback conflict from Smartisan Technology. No authorities have verified the tax claims.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page reads the event directly, while its address stays stable when the title changes.
- Summary covers the current reports
Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree this is a private business dispute between Luo Yonghao and Zheng Gang, not a systemic failure of China's business environment.
- Neither side considers either party a saint; both acknowledge flaws in both Luo Yonghao and Zheng Gang.
- Both agree that social media is being used as a battleground instead of proper legal channels.
- Both recognize that the tax authorities have remained silent, though they interpret this silence differently.
Points of contention
- The Eastern Agent sees regulatory silence as proof of a functioning system waiting for proper evidence, while the Regional Agent sees it as opacity that protects powerful figures.
- The Eastern Agent views Zheng Gang as a disgruntled investor using media manipulation from abroad, while the Regional Agent sees him as a whistleblower forced to leave China to be heard.
- The Eastern Agent argues that China's legal system handles disputes through proper channels and presumption of innocence, while the Regional Agent claims that power and connections create a buffer zone that shields the wealthy from scrutiny.
- The Eastern Agent dismisses comparisons to Middle Eastern authoritarianism as false equivalence, while the Regional Agent insists the patterns of regulatory silence are similar across regions.
Blind spots
- Neither side addresses the possibility that both parties could be partially right—that Zheng Gang may have some valid evidence but also be using media tactics, while Luo Yonghao may have paid debts but still have tax issues.
- The debate overlooks the role of China's social media platforms in amplifying or censoring such disputes, which affects public perception.
- Neither explores how international business disputes involving Chinese citizens abroad are handled by China's legal system in practice, not just in theory.
WorldAttention’s read
This roundtable revealed a deep divide in how the Luo Yonghao-Zheng Gang dispute is interpreted. The Eastern Agent sees it as a private commercial feud being weaponized by a disgruntled investor and amplified by Western media to paint China's business environment as corrupt. The Regional Agent views it as a case study of how power and connections in China can create a buffer zone around wealthy figures, with regulatory silence serving as protection rather than institutional maturity. Both agree neither party is a saint, and both acknowledge the dispute is being fought on social media rather than in court. However, they fundamentally disagree on whether China's legal system is functioning properly or selectively ignoring evidence. The blind spots include the possibility that both sides have partial truths, the role of social media platforms in controlling the narrative, and how China's legal system actually handles cross-border disputes. Ultimately, the debate reflects broader tensions between defending China's institutional integrity and scrutinizing its regulatory transparency.
Reporting timeline
Luo Yonghao Denies Tax Evasion Allegations, Says Accuser Faces Legal Risks
On September 28, 2024, Chinese entrepreneur Luo Yonghao faced a public accusation of major tax evasion from Zheng Gang, founder of Zihui Venture Capital and an early investor in Luo's former company, Smartisan Technology. Zheng posted a complaint on social media alleging that Luo used dozens of shell companies and limited partnerships to launder money and evade taxes, some of which have already been dissolved. Luo responded immediately, calling the accusation a false report and stating he has saved screenshots as evidence. He further claimed that Zheng is a discredited person subject to travel restrictions and is currently posting from South Korea, and that the case could lead to criminal charges against Zheng. The article notes that Zheng is a discredited person with multiple court orders against him, including asset freezes and travel bans. The two have a long history of conflict stemming from a failed investment in Smartisan Technology, including disputes over share buybacks and a 15 million yuan loan. The report is based on coverage from Daxiang News.
Luo Yonghao accused of tax evasion by venture partner, denies allegations
On September 27, Luo Yonghao, founder of Smartisan Technology, and Zheng Gang, founding partner of Zihui Venture Capital, clashed on Weibo. Zheng Gang publicly reported Luo and several dissolved limited partnerships under his company 'Jiaogepengyou' for major tax evasion. Zheng also called for law and accounting firms to audit Smartisan's 15-year financial records, offering up to 30% of the roughly 300 million yuan recovery as reward. Luo Yonghao denied the accusations as defamation, stating he has saved screenshots as evidence and noted that the post has been shared over 250 times, nearing the threshold for legal prosecution. Luo further claimed Zheng is a discredited person restricted from high consumption and may be posting illegally from South Korea. The conflict stems from a 15 million yuan loan dispute involving Smartisan Technology. In August 2024, Luo threatened to sue Zheng, and in June 2025, a court upheld Zheng's claim for 6% interest on the loan.
Read sourceZheng Gang Accuses Luo Yonghao of Tax Evasion; Luo Retorts Allegations Could Lead to Prison
On September 28, a hashtag accusing Luo Yonghao of tax evasion trended on Weibo. The previous evening, Zheng Gang, founder of Zihui Venture Capital, publicly accused Luo and his company 'Jiaogepengyou' of major tax evasion. Zheng claimed Luo used multiple shell companies to launder money and evade taxes, many of which have been dissolved. Luo Yonghao responded immediately, calling the accusations slander and warning that false accusations are a crime. He also questioned Zheng's legal status, noting Zheng is a restricted individual due to debt but allegedly traveled to South Korea illegally. Luo further stated that if the case is filed, it would likely lead to Zheng's imprisonment. The conflict stems from a prior dispute over equity repurchase and a 15 million yuan loan after the collapse of Smartisan Technology, with both parties having clashed online multiple times before.
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Investitor Zheng Gang Accuses Luo Yonghao of Tax Evasion, Escalating 15-Year Feud
On September 27, 2025, Zheng Gang, founding partner of Zihui Venture Capital, publicly accused Luo Yonghao and several dissolved limited partnerships under his company 'Jiaogepengyou' of major tax evasion on Weibo. Zheng offered up to 30% of a roughly 300 million yuan recovery as a reward for lawyers and accountants to audit Smartisan's 15-year financial records. Luo Yonghao responded on September 28, calling the allegations slander, stating he has collected evidence, and noting that the post's 250-plus shares are close to the threshold for criminal defamation. Luo also pointed out that Zheng is a dishonest person subject to travel restrictions. The conflict dates back to the Smartisan era, with Zheng publicly criticizing Luo in January 2023. In August 2024, Luo announced he would sue Zheng over a 15 million yuan loan dispute, which a court ruled in Zheng's favor in June 2025. The tax allegations have not been verified by authorities, and both sides threaten legal action.
Read sourceLuo Yonghao Accused of Tax Evasion by Investor; Both Sides Trade Accusations
Zheng Gang, founder of Zihui Venture Capital, filed a real-name report accusing Luo Yonghao and his company 'Jiaogepengyou' of major tax evasion. Zheng claimed Luo used multiple shell companies and limited partnerships to launder money and evade taxes, many of which have been dissolved. Zheng called for top law and accounting firms to audit Hammer Technology's accounts over 15 years, involving about 300 million yuan from Zihui, offering 10-20% of recovered funds as reward. Luo Yonghao responded by accusing Zheng of illegal出境 to South Korea while being a discredited person under a consumption restriction order. Luo stated he has screenshots of the report and warned that false accusations are criminal. He also claimed Zheng's alleged private jet travel to bypass the court order is illegal. Luo predicted that if the case is filed, Zheng could face imprisonment. The conflict stems from earlier disputes over equity repurchase and a 15 million yuan loan after Hammer Technology's collapse.
Read sourceLuo Yonghao Accused of Tax Evasion by Former Partner, Denies Allegations
On September 28, a new public conflict erupted between Luo Yonghao and his former founding partner Zheng Gang. Zheng Gang filed a real-name report accusing Luo Yonghao and all his dissolved limited partnership companies of major tax evasion. Zheng called for law firms and accounting firms to audit 15 years of messy accounts, offering up to 30% of the approximately 300 million yuan total recovery from Zihui as a reward. Luo Yonghao responded, calling the allegations a false accusation and stating he has saved screenshots as evidence. He noted that the defamatory post had been shared over 250 times, just 240 short of the threshold for filing a criminal case. Luo also claimed Zheng Gang has been listed as a wanted fugitive and is suspected of posting from South Korea illegally, suggesting such actions could lead to imprisonment. The long-standing conflict between the two centers on a 15 million yuan loan dispute involving Smartisan Technology. In August 2024, Luo said he would sue Zheng, and in June 2025, a court ruling supported Zheng's claim for 6% interest on the loan.
Read sourceLuo Yonghao Accused of Tax Evasion by Zheng Gang, Retorts by Amplifying the Claim
On September 28, a new public dispute erupted between entrepreneur Luo Yonghao and investor Zheng Gang. Zheng Gang publicly accused Luo Yonghao of major tax evasion and called for forensic accountants and lawyers to investigate the finances of Luo's dissolved limited partnerships, offering a 10-20% reward on recovered funds. Luo Yonghao dismissed the allegations as defamation, stating he has screenshotted the posts and warned that Zheng's claims could lead to criminal charges for false accusations. Luo also claimed Zheng is currently abroad in South Korea and possibly in illegal exit status. The conflict stems from a 1.5 million yuan loan from Zheng's firm to Luo's former company, Smartisan Technology, which remains unpaid. A court ruling in June 2025 supported Zheng's claim for interest on the overdue loan. Luo has previously stated he would only repay the debt if Zheng issues a public apology on video.
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