The disappearance of Zhu Hengpeng, a prominent Chinese economist and deputy director at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), has raised concerns about the Chinese government’s escalating crackdown on dissent, particularly regarding criticism of President Xi Jinping’s economic policies. Zhu was detained and removed from his posts following allegations that he criticized Xi’s handling of the economy in a private WeChat group.
Zhu Hengpeng, known for his expertise in health economics, has held senior positions at CASS for over a decade and was appointed deputy director of the CASS Institute of Economics in 2014. His last public appearance was in April at an elder-care conference, after which he was scheduled to speak at an event in May but was replaced without explanation. Since then, his name has been removed from online directories associated with CASS.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Zhu’s alleged criticisms of Xi Jinping included remarks on China’s economic challenges and even veiled comments about Xi’s leadership and mortality.
Zhu’s disappearance comes amid growing concerns over China’s economic health, with issues such as a declining real estate market, faltering consumer confidence, and slowing growth. These economic struggles have made the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) more sensitive to dissent and negative commentary about the country’s financial state. Under Xi Jinping, there has been a noticeable tightening of control over intellectual and academic discourse, with the government increasingly intolerant of criticism.
Over the past several years, the CCP has taken significant steps to silence critics, including high-profile figures such as Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba Group Holdings, who vanished from public view for several months in 2020 after criticizing Chinese regulators. Although Ma reappeared in 2021, his case, like Zhu’s, illustrates the growing risks faced by those who openly challenge or even question the government’s policies.
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