Rich philanthropists 'acting in poor taste'

Chen, president of Jiangsu Huangpu Renewable Resources, made headlines and drew criticism two months ago when he gave out red envelopes stuffed with money in Taiwan, and again this month during his charity road show to earthquake-jolted areas in Japan and Yunnan province.

On a five-day trip to Japan, Chen donated 1 million yuan ($24,690). He also handed out about 2 million yen ($24,735), giving 1,000 yen and 100 yuan - and his business card - each to Japanese students who were collecting donations on the streets.

The most controversial incident involved posed photos of Chen pulling a woman from the rubble. The photos were spread online quickly and generated harsh criticism from Internet users at home.

Chen, 42, declined to elaborate on the "rescue". "The media attention on that is abating," he said. "I don't want to put it back in the spotlight."

Chen left Japan, citing the risk of radiation from the damaged nuclear plant, and flew straight to Yunnan's Yingjiang county, where he donated 230,000 yuan in one day. Again, he posted photos online.

Some of the money went to volunteers who were helping the earthquake survivors. Chen told China Daily that when he was giving money to villagers, someone told him the volunteers couldn't afford to return home, so he gave them money, too. The Nanfang Daily newspaper reported that the volunteers were specifically asked to hold up the money for a photo.

High-profile philanthropist Chen Guangbiao (center foreground) gives out cash to earthquake survivors and some volunteers in Yingjiang county, Yunnan province last week. [Provided to China Daily]

Xu Yongguang, secretary-general of the Narada Foundation, labeled Chen's actions "violent charity" - sacrificing the dignity of recipients to meet his own needs. Defenders praised him for giving when many wealthy people don't.

"I'm being high-profile not to promote myself. I've been high-profile since I was little," Chen told a group of more than 40 executives of charitable foundations on Sunday in Beijing. "If I did not talk about the good deeds I've done, I would feel pent up."

Chen said he believes that his way of "violent charity" is what China needs, and he gives that way to push the development of philanthropy forward.

'Most demanding donors'

Some financial-savvy donors have started to wield their large wallets and budgeting knowledge to monitor how charitable funds are handled.

Current regulations require non-governmental organizations to affiliate with a government department to register as a charity with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. To organize any fund-raising activities, they must also accept official supervision. Yet NGOs and charities are not obliged to report to donors on how their money is spent.