Ai Weiwei: Feels like I just paid $1.3M ransom

Andy Wong / AP

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei shows his tax guarantee slips as he leaves the the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau on Wednesday.

AP reports:

BEIJING — Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei says he feels like he has paid a ransom, after depositing $1.3 million into a government account in a bid to contest tax authorities' claim his company owes $2.4 million.

He deposited the guarantee late Tuesday so that he could challenge the bill levied against his company. They now have 60 days to submit an appeal against the tax assessment — which Ai's supporters have called an attempt to silence a high-profile government critic. Read the full story here.

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