A Turning Point for #MeToo Movement in China
In a surprising turn of events, Chinese billionaire Richard Liu, founder of JD.com, reached an undisclosed settlement with a former University of Minnesota student who had accused him of rape just two days before the planned trial in the United States. This case had garnered significant attention and was closely monitored, particularly by women advocating for justice and change. In a joint statement released by the lawyers of both parties, they expressed a desire to “set aside their differences” to prevent further pain and suffering, acknowledging the immense public attention and profound suffering endured by both sides and their families since the incident in Minnesota in 2018. Notably, this marks a rare instance of a high-profile Chinese figure facing the prospect of a public lawsuit in the United States, outside of China’s often opaque legal system.
The decision to settle the case out of court has evoked mixed reactions within China. While some expressed sympathy for Richard Liu and accused the accuser, Liu Jingyao, of pursuing legal actions for financial gain, others saw this as a noteworthy moment for China’s #MeToo movement. On China’s heavily regulated social media platform, Weibo, a hashtag related to the case, garnered millions of views, reflecting the ongoing debate and division surrounding the issue.
