TMTPOST – Zhong Shanshan, the founder and chairman of China’s bottled water empire Nongfu Spring, on Wednesday demanded an apology from Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, for verbal attacks on the bottled water mogul allowed by ByteDance-controlled social media platforms. 

“I will wait for your apology, no matter for how long,” Zhong said in a rare public response to recent controversies and criticisms surrounding him during a media communication meeting in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province.

Zhong accused ByteDance's platforms, including Taoutiao and Douyin, the sister app of TikTok, of facilitating harmful rumors and defamatory content under the guise of the "safe harbor" principle, which shields platforms from liability for user-generated content. He urged Zhang to take responsibility for fostering a fair and civilized online environment. 

In March, Zhong was under fire from nationalist critics accusing him of lacking patriotism, right after the demise of Zong Qinghou, the founder of Nongfu Spring’s archrival Wahaha. The backlash has not only impacted the share price of his beverage company but also poses a potential threat to its sales. 

“You have a powerful and profitable enterprise capable of influencing public opinion,” Zhong said in mandarin. “With that power comes the responsibility to uphold fairness and justice for everyone, whether strong or weak. Legal justice is one such impartial mechanism.”  

Zhong demanded the immediate removal of defamatory comments and images targeting him, calling on ByteDance to cease any violations of his rights as a Chinese citizen.

Zhong likened internet civilization to earlier phases, such as agrarian and industrial civilizations, noting that each required prolonged negotiations of values and interests. He stressed that the internet should serve humanity, not undermine it.  

“When civilization becomes excessive, it harms humanity,” Zhong said, describing himself as an “internet novice” caught in the crossfire of online criticism.

Zhong also criticized the opacity of algorithmic systems, calling for transparency and accountability to ensure fairness. He condemned behavior that exploit technology to harm others, describing them as a “blasphemy against technological civilization.”

“The internet's powerful entities must restrain themselves while regulating others. If this principle is breached and platform rights are misused to spread rumors, society will bear the brunt of the damage,” Zhong warned.  

When it comes to e-commerce, Zhong lambasted platforms like Pinduoduo for engaging in price wars, which he argued damage Chinese brands and industries. He said, “Price competition driven by platforms like Pinduoduo inflicts immense harm on various industries in China.”

Zhong also expressed disdain for live-streaming e-commerce, vowing that Nongfu Spring would never jump on the bandwagon. “I look down on entrepreneurs who rely on live-streaming sales,” he said, adding, “They could be doing more valuable things.”

Zhong defended his reputation, asserting that he has not transferred any wealth abroad and has kept all his assets within China. “I am not a fraud,” he declared. He also expressed frustration at being vilified, saying frankly, “Entrepreneurs are just human beings with emotions, but even I have limits to my patience. I’m fragile; my tears come easily.”

Responding to criticisms about his son’s nationality, Zhong clarified that his son, now 36, has the right to make his own choices. “I have given him nothing; he’s just an employee and holds no stake of Nongfu Spring,” Zhong said.

Zhong condemned platforms that perpetuate division and hostility. “Those attacking me daily are not beneficiaries but victims of misinformation. What we need is a better business environment—one that respects entrepreneurs,” he said.

Zhong’s bold statements have reignited debates over the responsibilities of internet platforms, the ethics of e-commerce, and the treatment of entrepreneurs in China's rapidly evolving digital economy. 

Zhong became the target of an online uproar following the death of Zong, the founder of Wahaha. Zong, a nationalist icon, was celebrated for his victory in a high-profile business dispute with French multinational Danone two decades ago. His passing has fueled unfavorable comparisons between Zong and Zhong.

Nationalist internet users have zeroed in on various aspects of Zhong and Nongfu Spring, accusing the company of harboring “foreign influences.” Allegations range from the supposed Japanese inspiration behind the carp-shaped designs on the label of Nongfu’s brown rice tea to imagery linking a temple featured on a green tea product label to Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple. 

Further fueling the outrage is the American citizenship of Zhong’s son, a non-executive director of Nongfu Spring and a potential successor to the business. Critics argue that this undermines Zhong’s commitment to China, escalating the nationalist campaign against him.

The backlash has even caught the attention of state media, which has expressed concern over the economic implications of such boycotts. As China navigates economic slowdown, the government is striving to bolster private enterprises.