Chinese billionaire Jack Ma seen on video after months-long public disappearance

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma appeared on video publicly Wednesday for the first time in months, and is reportedly laying low after the lengthy disappearance.

Ma’s appearance came at a virtual social welfare event called the “Jack Ma Rural Teachers Awards,” according to the Chinese state-affiliated newspaper Global Times.

Duncan Clark, an investor and adviser on China’s tech sector, recently told NPR he believes the once-talkative Alibaba founder is living under the radar after facing backlash for a speech in which he attacked China’s financial regulatory system in October.

After the speech, Chinese regulators suspended Alibaba’s financial affiliate, Ant Group’s $37 billion IPO, and also launched a probe into Ma’s company.

“I think underlying this pushing back on Jack Ma is also a reassertion of the role of the state in the economy, which is very much part of President Xi Jinping’s agenda,” Duncan told NPR.

Ma, a former English teacher turned entrepreneur, hasn’t been seen in public in over two months. He even failed to appear on his own reality show, according to reports.

“My understanding is that he’s been told to lay low,” Duncan told the outlet.

“I think they just basically they want him back in his box,” he continued. “One wonders if there’s some degree of jealousy or irritation for President Xi or the government in general, that this, you know, rather uncontrollable figure is popping up in different places around the world.”

source: nypost.com