And Controversy grips China following reports of the mysterious disappearance of prominent Chinese economist Zhu Hengpeng, who vanished after being arrested in April.
According to American media outlet The Wall Street Journal, the 55-year-old man, who is connected to an influential think tank, was arrested for allegedly criticizing leader Xi Jinping’s management during a private chat on the WeChat mobile messaging app.
Later, he was placed under investigation for supposedly making derogatory remarks about China’s “decaying economy” and Jinping, according to sources from the aforementioned media outlet.
Since then, he has disappeared from public sight, and no information about Zhu Hengpeng has emerged.
Zhu Hengpeng, the Economist Who Disappeared in China
Zhu worked for over two decades at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), where he held senior positions. In 2014, he was appointed as the deputy director of the state-run Institute of Economics, as well as the director of the Public Policy Research Center.
During that time, he specialized in health economics, advising the Chinese government on policies concerning hospital reforms and healthcare access. He became an influential commentator in this area, according to WSJ.
Additionally, according to corporate information, he also served as an independent director at China Meheco Group, a state-owned pharmaceutical company, from 2014 to 2015.
The Disappearance of the Chinese Economist
As reported by the aforementioned media, Zhu Hengpeng was last seen in public in late April at an event organized by Caixin, a Chinese financial news magazine.
At that event, he spoke at a conference on the elderly care sector, suggesting that China could address gaps in its pension system by requiring younger individuals to contribute to their parents’ pensions. This would also involve the issuance of more government bonds, according to the magazine.
However, this suggestion sparked significant discussion on social media, mainly due to the increased burden it would place on younger generations.
Zhu had another conference scheduled for May 25, organized by the Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance at Tsinghua University (CIDEG). He was a member of the academic committee for this event.
However, the report produced by CIDEG following the event did not mention Zhu in any capacity (as a speaker, participant, or attendee). His speaking role was taken over by another academic.
Earlier this month, changes occurred in the senior management of CASS, as reported by Hong Kong media. The director and secretary were dismissed, and Zhu was also removed from his position.
Despite attempts by The Wall Street Journal to inquire, the status of the investigation against Zhu remains unknown, and there has been no response or comment from CASS.
Meanwhile, two staff members at the academy were reassigned, while the prominent economist has not been. He is no longer listed on the institution’s website, and links related to his work at Tsinghua University were removed.
Zhu joined the academic committee of the university in December 2022, and according to a source from the American media, such appointments are often indefinite.
Chinese Regime’s Intolerance to Economic Criticism
It is important to note that CASS is one of the leading think tanks in China, which has a direct relationship and reports to the State Council, the cabinet of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Criticism of the CCP and its leadership is becoming increasingly intolerable and is met with severe punishment. In response, many specialists and academics living in China have expressed fears about making negative comments regarding the Asian nation, especially online, as they face surveillance and censorship.
Reports on the CASS website have highlighted officials participating in political education sessions. These sessions focused on loyalty to the CCP and the ideology of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Investigation Against Zhu Hengpeng
According to WSJ, the investigation against Zhu Hengpeng has coincided with an apparent indoctrination campaign aimed at CASS staff, designed to ensure compliance with the regulations of the Chinese Communist Party.
PPC members in leadership positions were instructed to sign formal commitments to uphold discipline and comply with the “10 prohibitions.”
These prohibitions comprise a list of banned activities, including the sharing of inappropriate material and collaborating with organizations or foreign entities without authorization.
“Be Careful with Your Words”
Even in a report on a meeting held in June, led by CASS President Gao Xiang, the importance of “values” such as political loyalty and strict discipline was emphasized.
Officials must be “fearful in their hearts, careful with their words, and restrained in their actions,” Gao stated during the session, according to the report cited by WSJ.
It should be noted that Gao is a senior historian loyal to Xi Jinping, having taken office in 2022. He has overseen various campaigns to strengthen loyalty to the CPP within the institution.
While the exact comments Zhu supposedly made in the private WeChat conversation remain undisclosed, the Chinese media outlet Sing Tao Daily reported that he may have inappropriately discussed some core policies, including references to “Xi’s mortality.”
Zhu Hengpeng’s sudden disappearance occurs during a challenging economic period for China, which is struggling to meet its annual growth target of 5%.
And Controversy shakes China after reporting the Mysterious disappearance of prominent Chinese economist Zhu Hengpeng who vanished after being arrested in April.
According to the American media The Wall Street Journal, the 55-year-old man was linked to an influential think tank and arrested after allegedly criticizing leader Xi Jinping’s management in a private chat on WeChat (mobile messaging app).
Later, Zhu was put under investigation for allegedly making disparaging comments about China’s “decaying economy” and Jinping, according to one of the sources of the aforementioned media.
Since then, he has disappeared from public view, and no information has been known about Zhu Hengpeng.
Zhu Hengpeng: The Economist Who Disappeared in China
Zhu worked for more than two decades at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), where he held senior positions. In 2014, he was appointed deputy director of the (state) Institute of Economics and also served as the director of the Public Policy Research Center.
During that period, he specialized in health economics, advising the Chinese regime on healthcare policies and hospital reforms. His expertise made him an influential commentator in this field, according to WSJ.
Additionally, from 2014 to 2015, he served as an independent director at China Meheco Group, a state-owned pharmaceutical company.
The Disappearance of the Chinese Economist
According to the aforementioned media, Zhu Hengpeng was last seen publicly in late April at an event organized by Caixin, a Chinese financial news magazine. At that time, he spoke at a conference on the elderly care sector, suggesting that young Chinese could contribute to their parents’ pensions to fill gaps in the pension system. This change would be coupled with the issuance of more government bonds, which garnered a mixed reaction on social media due to the extra burden it would impose on younger generations.
Zhu had another conference scheduled for May 25, coordinated by the Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance at Tsinghua University (CIDEG). His speaker position at this event was unexpectedly taken by another academic, raising concerns about his absence.
Recently, there have been significant changes in the top management of CASS, where the director and secretary were dismissed, along with Zhu’s removal from his post. Despite attempts by The Wall Street Journal, the status of the investigation against Zhu remains unknown, with no response from CASS.
Meanwhile, two staff members at the Academy were reassigned, while Zhu’s name has been completely removed from the institution’s website, along with any reference to his work at Tsinghua University.
Chinese Regime’s Intolerance to Economic Criticism
It is worth mentioning that CASS is one of the foremost think tanks in China, closely tied to the State Council, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cabinet. The current political climate reveals growing intolerance for criticism against the CCP and its leadership. In this atmosphere, specialists and academics residing in China express fears of voicing dissent, particularly online, as they operate under increased surveillance and censorship.
Recent reports on the CASS website indicate that officials have engaged in sessions focused on political education, emphasizing loyalty to the CCP and the ideology of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Investigations Against Zhu Hengpeng
The investigation involving Zhu Hengpeng coincides with an apparent indoctrination campaign aimed at CASS staff, intended to ensure compliance with the CCP’s rigid rules. Members of the Politburo Party Committee holding leadership positions were ordered to sign formal commitments to instill discipline and adhere to the “10 prohibitions.”
Prohibitions Under the Party’s Rules
- Collaboration with foreign entities without authorization
- Discussion or promotion of inappropriate material
- Dissemination of disloyal communications
- Failure to enforce censorship regulations
- Any criticism of the Party or its leadership
Heeding the Warning: “Be Careful with Your Words”
In a June meeting led by CASS President Gao Xiang, he emphasized the importance of holding “values” such as political loyalty and strict discipline. Officials must be “fearful in their hearts, careful with their words, and restrained in their actions,” according to Gao’s statements, further revealing the current atmosphere of fear and control.
It is essential to note that Gao, a senior historian loyal to Xi Jinping, took office in 2022 and has been a proponent of campaigns aimed at fortifying allegiance to the CPP within CASS.
The Contentious Private Conversation
While the exact content of Zhu’s private WeChat conversation remains undisclosed, reports from Sing Tao Daily suggest that he may have inappropriately discussed core policies, even referencing “Xi’s mortality.” This serious allegation sheds light on the high stakes surrounding political discussions in China’s current climate.
The Economic Context of Zhu’s Disappearance
Zhu Hengpeng’s abrupt disappearance occurs against a backdrop of a challenging economic situation for China, which continues to struggle in achieving its annual growth target of 5%. The current economic struggles, compounded by the uncertainties and fears enveloping Zhu, create an atmosphere ripe for both speculation and concern over the future of free speech and economic critique in China.
