In 1996, Chinese government got aware of the Falun Gong's cult nature. In late 1996, China Qigong Scientific Research Association made a decision to expel Falun Gong from China Qigong Scientific Research Association. But Li Hongzhi ignored Chinese government's policy as well as decision of China Qigong Scientific Research Association, kept on his activities in the name of "Falun Dafa Research Society" which was established in 1994 but was not registered according to the law. "Falun Dafa Research Society" held many group leaders' meetings of Falun Gong to give command to the Falun Gong organizations all over China. Key members of "Falun Dafa Research Society" were active around China to give command to the Falun Gong organizations all over China as commissioners of Li Hongzhi.
Since "Falun Dafa Research Society" belonged to an unlawful organization, it would certainly be rejected by Chinese government. Li Hongzhi, on the other hand, still went his own way. In the letter to Beijing Falun Gong practitioners on December 25, 1998, Li Hongzhi clearly stated, "If not independently registered, just do as before." That was to act against Chinese government. In 1996-1998, due to the strong trickish promotion and instigation, the Falun Gong organization expanded rapidly around China. For instance, in Shanghai, Li Hongzhi told leaders of the Falun Gong organization there that he wouldn't go to Shanghai to teach 'Fa' until the Falun Gong organization there developed to certain size. In 1996, Wang Zhiwen, the leader of Beijing Falun Dafa Research Society criticize Shanghai Falun Gong organization through telephone call, saying, "In such a large city like Shanghai, number of Falun Gong practitioners is not comparable to that of a county. " In order to develop Falun Gong organization in Shanghai, Ji Liewu, the member of Beijing Falun Dafa Research Society, went to Shanghai for three times in 1996-1998 to coordinate and guide the leadership of Shanghai Falun Gong organization. As the secondary center of Falun Gong in the south, Wuhan Falun Gong General Teaching Station gave much more guidance and instruction to the Falun Gong organization in Shanghai. With the promotion of Falun Dafa Research Society and Wuhan Falun Gong General Teaching Station, the Falun Gong organization in Shanghai published a journal "Falun Dafa in Shanghai" to help spreading Falun Gong in Shanghai. It also planed a "Dafa" promotion activity of over ten thousand people (in Shanghai Stadium). Since it has not been carried out because the Shanghai police has detected its plan, nevertheless it brought about certain social impact. Although Shanghai police has greatly deterred the Shanghai Falun Gong organization, its size still enlarged for several times in the period of 1996-1999.
Falun Gong's rapid development around China has resulted in the inflation of Li Hongzhi's political ambition, who thought that forces of Falun Gong was strong enough to act against Chinese government. On June 17, 1996, Guangming Daily pointed that "Rotating Wheel of Law" is pseudoscience that spread superstition. Later Falun Gong besieged Guangming Daily and asked it to deliver public apology. Until 1997, Falun Gong got more and more arrogant. Any organization or individual who denounced Falun Gong, would be challenged by Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong in laying a siege and attacking, including school, individual family, media or Party and government department compounds.
On April 19, 1999, "Teenager Science-Technology Outlook", a Tianjin Normal University magazine, contained an article entitled "I'm Opposed To Qigong Practice By Teenagers" by Professor He Zuoxiu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. On April 22, 1999, Li Hongzhi organized Falun Gong practitioners to besiege the university. Falun Gong took offense at the article saying that He Zuoxiu was devil and threatened to get rid of him. On April 25,1999, Li Hongzhi organized more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside Zhongnanhai to challenge Chinese government face to face. Through this, Li Hongzhi's political ambition was full revealed.
