Wrong to tar all entrepreneurs with same brush

GUO GUANGCHANG, chairman of Fosun International Ltd, attended the company's annual meeting in Shanghai on Monday, four days after the company said it was unable to contact him. He was reportedly assisting a judicial investigation before he reappeared and returned home. Beijing News deems it unnecessary and unwise for people to deride Guo as a "typical" Chinese businessman who got too close to officialdom for a share in an illegal exchange of interests:

To many, Guo's disappearance is a natural result of the "sins" committed by most private businesspeople. Such a vague description is not only discriminatory toward private enterprises, but also goes against the rule of law.

Accusing an entrepreneur of misdeeds without proof is a dangerous attempt to deny individuals and private businesses lawful ownership of private assets. Such a mentality may lead to the conclusion that private enterprises' assets are illegal, and they can be deprived of them at any time. This is not only unconstitutional, but will result in more uncertainties for China's economic growth, as private and mixed-ownership companies are playing an increasingly important economic role nowadays.