at Wei's home in Beijing. In December 2009, Swedish tax authorities accused Wei of owing an estimated SEK 80–104 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$10 million) in taxes to the Swedish government for incomes earned in China during the years 2003–2008. In response, she released a public letter addressed to then-Prime Minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeld, asking for help and arguing that the tax authorities had illegally confiscated her assets because the tax authorities had proceeded with confiscation without a warrant or court order. The Swedish tax authority's accusations were ultimately rejected by Swedish courts due to a lack of concrete facts. Legacy Wei is largely considered a national treasure in China, and one of its most iconic singers. Wei is the first Mainland Chinese pop singer after the reform and opening-up period initiated under Deng Xiaoping to have competed abroad officially representing the People's Republic of China, the first Zhuang ethnic minority artist to represent China internationally, the first woman to be selected as China's Olympic Ambassador, and one of China's earliest artists to use the internet for the digital release of music. In 2015, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the East China University of Political Science and Law and appointed Honorary Dean, and she holds a world record for the largest number of people to perform a sing-along using sign language. She has sold an estimated 200 million records, making her one of the best-selling Mainland Chinese artist during the 1990s, and leading her to be referred to as "China's Whitney Houston", and "China's Madonna". Discography References 1963 births Living people English-language singers from China People from Hohhot Chinese Mandopop singers Zhuang people Singers from Inner Mongolia 20th-century Chinese women singers 21st-century Chinese women singers