Ai Weiwei appeal overruled

A court in China has upheld an earlier ruling that will force Chinese activist Ai Weiwei to pay a $2.4 million dollar fine for tax evasion.

A court in Beijing ruled against the appeal-- Ai's second-- to overturn the fine, lobbed at his company which produces his art and designs for supposed tax evasion.

Ai said the ruling did not come as a surprise... but was a disappointment.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE ARTIST AI WEIWEI SAYING:

"People say 'you knew the result of this from the beginning.' That's true. The result today is not the result we should have been given. China should be changing every day, but in truth this is not happening. We are still living under a rotten legal system. This system cannot possibly have impartiality or justice"

Activists say the case is an attempt to quiet Ai and his repeated criticism of the government.

Ai said he will consult his lawyers on what to do next, although it seems he has little choice.

This is the highest court he can appeal to, and if he doesn't pay the fine, he's likely to get arrested.