The Chinese authorities’ antitrust action against the e-commerce giant appears arbitrary, which will not bolster investor confidence in China’s thriving internet firms.
Alibaba and Ant Group founder Jack Ma has become the focus of a regulatory crackdown. Credit: Alibaba Group
HONG KONG – Since the Chinese authorities suddenly halted fintech conglomerate Ant Group’s planned initial public offering in autumn 2020, its parent company, e-commerce king Alibaba, has been facing harsh regulatory scrutiny. On Christmas Eve, China’s antitrust authority announced that it was investigating the firm’s exclusive business practices. And Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma, recently eased concerns regarding his fate by appearing in public for the firs
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The recent conviction of Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s most famous dissident, on alleged national security offenses was the end of a process set in motion years ago by the Chinese Communist Party. Lai, who could have sought safety in another country, chose to stay and fight.
David Webb, who for years fought for fairer markets and better-run companies in Hong Kong, passed away on January 13, 2026. In tribute, we are resurfacing this article about his career, first published in May...
An award-winning podcast about the world’s two superpowers, the two men in charge, and the vital issues that affect us all. Face-Off cuts through the noise for the real story, with essential historical context.
In this season, longtime foreign correspondent for The New York Times Jane Perlez and celebrated China historian Rana Mitter cover Xi at the negotiating table, Gen Z disillusionment, China’s military rise, Pacific tensions, tech advances, and soft power.
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