Dictator Xi at it again: Noted economist Zhu Hengpeng disappears after criticizing the Chinese President and sluggish economy.

Another member of China's elite has disappeared after criticizing Xi Jinping. The Wall Street Journal reports that Zhu Hengpeng disappeared after criticizing Xi Jinping.

Zhu is thought to have questioned the Chinese economy and Xi's leadership in a secret WeChat group. Zhu's last known public appearance occurred in late April, according to the website.

A renowned economist has joined the expanding list of Chinese elite who have disappeared from public life after criticizing President Xi Jinping. Zhu Hengpeng was the deputy director of the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) for over a decade.


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China's cabinet receives direct reports from the state research think tank CASS. Former Shanghai University of Political Science and Law associate professor Chen Daoyin defined it as a body to formulate party ideology to support the leadership. The Journal claims that the 55-year-old vanished quickly after commenting about China's slowing economy and questioning Xi's leadership in a closed WeChat group.

According to people acquainted with the matter, Zhu was detained, had his posts taken down, and was the subject of an investigation after the remarks. Zhu's name has now been taken off the roster of employees at a think group connected to Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Zhu's abduction coincides with Xi's intensifying crackdown on criticism of his administration and leadership. Most notably, Jack Ma, the cofounder of Alibaba, vanished from view in late 2020 after taking issue with Chinese regulators.

Chinese official media said last year that Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu had been removed from his position without providing a reason or designating a successor. He had been the subject of a corruption investigation and had essentially vanished since his last public appearance in late August 2023.

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Many of China's elite are Communist Party members, and they are increasingly likely to be drawn into Xi's anti-corruption campaign, according to a February BBC investigation. Individuals may vanish under Xi's Anti-Corruption Commission. Although their relatives should be informed of their loved ones' whereabouts while they are in custody, this isn't always the case.

FAQs

Whatever happened to Zhu Hengpeng?
Zhu Hengpeng, a well-known economist, disappeared after criticizing Xi Jinping and the Chinese economy in a private WeChat group. He was apparently detained after making his remarks.

Is disappearance of elites common in China?
Yes, this has happened previously. Other prominent personalities, such as Jack Ma, have disappeared after criticizing Xi Jinping or the Chinese government. Xi's anti-corruption campaign is infamous for making detractors disappear.