Zhu Hengpeng, a top economist, disappeared after criticizing Xi Jinping's leadership and China's economy in a private WeChat group, raising alarms about freedom of speech.
Zhu served as deputy director of the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences for about a decade, a state think tank aligned with party ideology.
His disappearance reflects Xi Jinping's increasing crackdown on dissent, as seen with other elites like Alibaba's cofounder and Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu.
The Journal’s efforts to contact Zhu or ascertain his legal representation were unsuccessful, indicating a deliberate effort to silence dissent.
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