The Aizhixing Institute, a prominent Aids advocacy group on the mainland, is facing a new round of investigations by the authorities, and Wan Yanhai - its founder, who recently left the country - fears its closure is imminent.
Investigators from the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau visited Aizhixing's office on Wednesday and questioned its staff over unpaid business taxes since 2002, the year the group was founded, Wan (pictured) said.
They also ordered the staff to produce by today all documents related to the group's overseas financing in the past seven years. This includes details of its financial accounts for this year and those between 2002 and 2007 as well as its financial and audit reports in the same period.
The tax bureau also wants to see all of Aizhixing's contracts with its overseas donors.
Wan said it is simply impossible to find all the documents in time.
'If we can't produce what they've asked for, I'm sure they will come and raid the office,' he said by phone from the United States. 'We might be closed down anytime within a week. It is a very urgent situation.'