Tobacco industry sponsorship is still very active in China

An article published in the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases analyzed in detail the sponsorship and "social responsibility" actions of the tobacco industry in China between 2015 and 2022.[1]. While the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the’'The WHO, which China has ratified, imposes a global ban on advertising'Regarding promotion and sponsorship, the authors show that sponsorship remains widely usedproduced by Chinese tobacco companies to support their image and activitiesChina, the world's leading producer and consumer of tobacco, accounts for nearly a third of global cigarette consumption, with national production exceeding 24.4 trillion cigarettes in 2023 and generating 8.4 % of national tax revenue, but nevertheless presenting a higher cost in health expenditure and productivity losses.

A ban on sponsorship that is not being enforced

After a sharp decline in 2017, linked in particular to the entry into force of a law on charities prohibiting sponsorship by the tobacco industry, sponsorship budgets gradually increased before falling again in 2021, amid the pandemic and economic slowdown. Spatial analysis reveals strong concentrations in the major tobacco-producing provinces, especially Yunnan, Hunan, and Jiangxi, while the northeast of the country appears much less affected.

Data from tobacco directories and the Chinalawinfo database were combined in statistical models that revealed two major effects: the higher the cigarette production in a province, the larger the sponsorship amounts; conversely, the effectiveness of laws banning smoking in public places is associated with a decrease in the amounts allocated. These relationships remain significant even after accounting for links between industry and authorities (presence of political figures at sponsored events, institutional proximity) and the degree of integration of the production chain.

The authors point out that the 2016 Philanthropy Act, amended in 2023, remains vague: it does not precisely define what constitutes sponsorship by the tobacco industry and does not provide for specific penalties in the event of a violation. This lack of definition and sanctions allows tobacco companies to continue sponsoring schools, relief programs, or cultural events under the guise of "charity" or "social responsibility," despite the general prohibition on sponsorship activities.

Above all, The China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC) remains a state monopoly and also controls the activities of other tobacco companies with which it has contracts. This creates a serious conflict of interest between the tobacco industry and public health policies.

A strategy focused on the production chain and "philanthropy"«

By exploiting more than 2,400 articles published on industry websites, the authors identify four major themes highlighted: response to disasters and health crises, tobacco production and processing, the fight against poverty and the implementation of public policies, customer service and brand building.

Two main blocks emerge: on the one hand, so-called "solidarity" actions (donations for Covid-19, aid to poor areas, scholarships, infrastructure) aligned with national priorities for the fight against poverty and rural revitalization; on the other hand, initiatives focused on the core business (support for planters, modernization of production, animation of the retail network, marketing).

The authors show that tobacco farmers and retailers are prime targets for sponsorship, through material aid, training, income support, or programs presented as "agricultural development" initiatives. These actions reinforce loyalty to the sector; they stabilize supplies and consolidate sales channels, while being presented as contributions to poverty reduction or local employment.

Communication that masks the commercial purpose

The study shows that, faced with the progressive tightening of advertising and promotion bans, companies have made their sponsorship operations more indirect and less easy to identify.

The use of socially valued themes, such as the fight against poverty, support for disadvantaged areas, donations during disasters or the Covid-19 pandemic, makes it possible to present the sector as an actor serving "national development", while strengthening the place of tobacco in the local economy and taxation.

The authors interpret these practices as a form of strategic communication: by associating tobacco with development and solidarity goals, companies improve their image, gain privileged access to public decision-makers, and make it more difficult to adopt stricter control measures. In this context, sponsorship appears less as "disinterested generosity" than as an investment designed to secure production, sales, and the industry's political acceptability.

Call for a strict, nationwide ban on sponsorship

Public health officials point out that China is a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. As such, any sponsorship of tobacco or tobacco industry products is prohibited. Similarly, and more structurally, the existence of a very powerful state-owned tobacco company in the country, which largely controls the activities of other tobacco companies, does not exempt the country from respecting its commitments to protect public policies regarding this industry.

The authors finally call for citizen mobilization and an active role for the media, as in Bangladesh, to promote the adoption of a total ban, aligned with international standards, as well as for further research, capable of more firmly establishing the cause-and-effect links between legislative tightening, changes in sponsorship practices and consumption indicators, in order to strengthen the arguments in favor of stricter regulation.

The authors of the article mention that worldwide, while 163 countries have so far banned tobacco advertising on national television and radio and 130 have banned promotional discounts, only 73 countries prohibit financial or in-kind sponsorship of the tobacco industry and only 6 countries apply restrictions in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

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[1]Sun S, Wu Y, Tang Y, Wang F, Improving legislation is a necessity: A multi-method quantitative analysis of tobacco sponsorship and advertising in China,Tobacco Induced Diseases, published March 24, 2026, accessed March 25, 2026

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