— Jack Ma's businesses are under enormous pressure right now. But the co-founder of China's most successful tech empire and legendary billionaire entrepreneur hasn't been heard from in months.
Alibaba, meanwhile, has been probed in China for alleged monopolistic behavior. And the Wall Street Journal reported last week that Beijing was seeking to shrink Ma's empire and potentially take a larger stake in his businesses, citing Chinese officials and government advisers familiar with the matter.
Alibaba told CNN Business on Monday that Ma"had to miss the finale due to scheduling conflict." It declined further comment on his whereabouts. It was Ma's last major appearance, though, that China tech observers suspect landed his business in hot water. At a conference in Shanghai in late October, Ma publicly criticized Chinese regulators for stifling innovation by being too risk averse.
It's not clear from official or company statements whether Ma has attended any meetings since then regarding the future of his businesses.
jack ma is just outside the outskirts of beijing wherein being keep in isolation as part of the grandiose propaganda of xi jing ping.