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Top Chinese economist disappears after criticising Xi Jinping in private chat – report
#Zhu #Hengpeng, who worked for an influential government thinktank,
has reportedly not been seen in public since making disparaging remarks on WeChat
A leading Chinese economist at a government thinktank has reportedly disappeared after being disciplined for criticising Xi Jinping in a private chat group.
Zhu Hengpeng, 55, is believed to have made disparaging remarks about China’s economy, and potentially about the Chinese leader specifically, in a private WeChat group.
Zhu was subsequently detained in April and put under investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal which cited anonymous sources.
Zhu worked for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences ( #CASS ) for more than 20 years,
most recently as the Institute of Economics deputy director and director of the Public Policy Research Center.
He has reportedly not been seen in public since April when he spoke at an event organised by Chinese media outlet Caixin,
which he had done previously.
Efforts by the Wall Street Journal to contact him at home were unsuccessful.
The Cass has not responded to queries from the Guardian.
Earlier this month Hong Kong media reported a shakeup of the institute’s senior ranks,
with the director and secretary also removed from their posts at the same time Zhu was stripped of his role.
The other two officials were reassigned, according to Sing Tao Daily,
but Zhu was not, and is no longer listed on the Cass website.
Websites related to his work at Tsinghua University have also been taken offline, although the Guardian could not confirm when.
DJ Mag