In a startling development that has sent ripples across China’s academic and political landscape, Zhu Hengpeng, a prominent economist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), has reportedly vanished following disciplinary action for criticizing Xi Jinping. Zhu’s last public sighting traces back to an April event, when his whereabouts remain unknown.
Zhu Hengpeng’s Background and Role at CASS
Zhu, aged 55, was a stalwart at CASS, serving for over two decades. His recent roles included Deputy Director at the Institute of Economics and Director of the Public Policy Research Center. His career, marked by a series of high-profile public discussions and critical analyses, came under scrutiny after he allegedly made disparaging remarks in a private WeChat group.
Incident Details
Sources suggest that Zhu critiqued aspects of China’s economic policies and possibly Xi Jinping’s leadership in a private discussion. These comments led to his detention, and an investigation was initiated in April, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, which relied on anonymous sources for this information. Since then, Zhu has not been seen in public, raising serious concerns about his safety and freedom.
Reactions and Changes at CASS
Following the incident, there was a significant reshuffle at CASS. The director and secretary were removed from their posts, which coincided with Zhu’s removal of his duties. While other officials were reassigned, Zhu’s profiles and related content were purged from the CASS website, and his association with Tsinghua University was conspicuously erased.
