A top economist has joined the growing list of China’s elite to have disappeared from public life after criticizing Xi Jinping, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Zhu Hengpeng served as deputy director of the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) for around a decade.
CASS is a state research think tank that reports directly to China’s cabinet. Chen Daoyin, a former associate professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, described it as a “body to formulate party ideology to support the leadership.”
According to the Journal, the 55-year-old disappeared shortly after remarking on China’s sluggish economy and criticizing Xi’s leadership in a private group on WeChat.
People familiar with the situation told the publication that Zhu was investigated, removed from his posts, and detained following the comments.
Zhu’s name has since been removed from the list of staff at a think tank affiliated with Beijing’s Tsinghua University, according to The Journal. The report said that his last known public appearance was in late April.
The publication and BI were unable to get in touch with Zhu or determine whether he had legal representation.
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and State Council Information Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.
Zhu disappearance comes as Xi steps up his crackdown on criticism of his leadership and government.
Most famously, Alibaba cofounder Jack Ma disappeared from the public eye in late 2020 after criticizing Chinese regulators.
Last year, Chinese state media announced the removal of Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu from office without explanation and without naming a replacement.
He’d been under investigation for corruption, US officials told The New York Times and had seemingly disappeared since his last public appearance in late August 2023.
According to a BBC report in February, many of China’s elite are Communist Party members and are at increasing risk of being caught up in Xi’s anti-corruption drive.
The report said that Xi’s Anti-Corruption Commission can make people disappear. While their families are supposed to be told where their loved ones are being detained, this doesn’t always happen, it said.
