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.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      54 minutes ago

      92 upvotes would suggest a lot of people.

      But everything you could say about China rings just as true in Europe, in Japan and Korea, in India, in Russia…

      Global populations are heading for a heavy sag, but westerners only know how to heckle the Evil Foreigners.

      • volodya_ilich
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        23 minutes ago

        Funny because I’m European, and the GDP per capita levels of most EU countries are at 2008 levels.

        As for a population pyramid, China will face the same problem as other countries as you say, possibly more magnified.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          13 minutes ago

          EU countries are filling up with war and climate refugees. And… 2008 is one hell of a year to pick as your benchmark.