Authorities in Hangzhou have detained a senior local official and a businessman suspected of sexually assaulting a woman at a karaoke bar after an official dinner.
The woman was allegedly pushed to the ground by one of the men, sustaining injuries to her lower back, and police have confirmed the assault.
Both suspects were removed from their positions following the investigation and the case has been widely discussed on Shanghai and Beijing based Weibo feed, topping the platform’s trending list.
The incident has ignited public grievances over the “drinking table culture”, with users demanding clearer rules that separate business hospitality from potential harassment.
Experts argue that far more comprehensive institutional reforms are needed to eliminate the grey zone where power and drinking go hand in hand.
