Stop after a clear refusal — continued pursuit is a public order violation, not “sincerity”

If someone has clearly refused you, and you still send messages or wait for them, as of January 2026 this constitutes a violation of public order laws. Offenders may be detained for up to 5 days or fined up to 1000 yuan. For more serious cases, detention ranges from 5 to 10 days. Police can also issue orders barring the offender from contacting the other person; any violation of such orders results in an additional 5–10 days of detention.

No cost at all, neither financial nor time-related. The hard part is self-restraint: refraining from sending further messages or waiting around for the other person.

The Public Security Administration Punishment Law, effective 1 January 2026, explicitly lists persistent pursuit and stalking as separate violations. The relevant clause states that “repeatedly sending obscene, insulting, threatening or similar messages, or using harassment, stalking and other methods to interfere with another person’s normal life” is punishable by up to 5 days of detention or a fine of up to 1000 yuan. For more serious cases, the penalty is 5–10 days of detention, with a possible fine up to 1000 yuan. This law also adds an extra provision: with approval from a senior police official, offenders can be ordered to refrain from contacting the victim for a set period; any violation of this order incurs an additional 5–10 days of detention.

There is no research evidence supporting the claim that “persistent pursuit can win over the other person”; however, detention and contact bans are explicitly stipulated by law. These records also affect eligibility for civil service exams, background checks, and certain professional licenses. The line between pursuing someone and harassing them is not defined by the perpetrator’s intentions, but by whether the other person has clearly expressed refusal.

全国人大常委会 (2025 修订). 治安管理处罚法（第五十条第一款第五项、第二款，第一百三十六条）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml（最高人民检察院转载）