逼捐 (bijuan): Extortive donations

After the explosions at Tianjin Port, Internet users began to appeal to celebrities and rich people to donate money to help those affected by the disaster. Some netizens even tried to force them into doing so. For instance, one posted on the micro blog of Alibaba Group Chairman Ma Yun that he should donate 100 million yuan ($15.64 million), or: "I won't purchase on Taobao.com any more if you don't donate."

Although many netizens have good intentions, such kind of extortive donations can amount to a form of blackmail.

As people who have both money and social resources, many celebrities and rich people participate in public welfare and donate some of their wealth to help people in need. This behavior not only manifests their own sense of social responsibility, it also acts as an example for others to emulate.

However, it is not an obligation for them to donate money. And nobody has the right to try and force other people to donate money or decide how much money they should donate. The public should not attempt to morally kidnap these people just because they are rich and public figures. We should not transform donating into acceding to extortion.