Chinese business magnate Jack Ma is in a bit of trouble. Founder and former chairperson of the Alibaba Group, he is often included in those ‘richest people’ and ‘most powerful’ lists. Recently there have been reports of the Chinese authorities cracking down on and investigating Ma’s businesses. It is thought that the country’s ruling is looking to cut down to size, influential voices such as his; that he may be next. Ma was reported to be ‘missing’ recently; people are speculating about the reasons for this:
This was Jack Ma's last tweet. After this tweet dated 10 October 2020, there is nothing. Ma hasn’t been seen or heard of for a couple of months now. He did not appear as judge for the TV show Africa’s Business Heroes as scheduled either.
This led to a lot of speculation on social media and elsewhere about the reasons behind the ‘disappearance’ of Jack Ma.
The Chinese authorities are known to behave in opaque and punishing ways against those they see as inimical to the party.
The tweeple were left wondering if Ma’s absence from public had some dark story behind it. Because in China, few who speak against the great leader or the party and live to tell the tale!
People are hoping that Ma is safe and that his absence is just a deliberate ruse to avoid possible retributive action from the Chinese authorities.
In a speech he gave in October in Shanghai, Ma criticised some of the policies of the Chinese Communist Party and called for some reforms. Following this, he was summoned for questioning in November and his company IPO was nixed. Even his great wealth and personal celebrity did not protect him.
He is someone who has inspired many and is popular not just for his great wealth but also his business acumen.
According to sources, Jack Ma is not missing; he is just laying low for the time being.
However, some are convinced that Ma has been in custody; undergoing torture at the very least. (Reeducation is the euphemism used to the cultural erasure practised by the CCP on groups such as the Tibetians, Uyghurs and other persecuted populations)
…Something like this.
This is how dictatorships work – with zero regard for any individual's liberty or their human rights – even when that individual is as powerful as Jack Ma.
In Xi’s China, loyalty is a must and anyone suspected of dissent or disloyalty is severely punished. According to reports, Xi was personally responsible for scuttling Ma’s company IPO and the actions against his businesses.
There is little doubt that the Ma speech was seen as threatening the CCP’s authority and it was this that resulted in this situation.
People are speculating about Jack Ma and his whereabouts. Is he laying low or has he been laid low, is the question. When will he return? Will he return?
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