On September 15, just before the new entry and exit regulations of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) went into effect, there were rumors circulating online about the family of Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei attempting to flee. Both the official CCP and Huawei, as well as Ren Zhengfei’s family, have yet to debunk these rumors. Experts analyze that while the rumors may not necessarily be true, the timing is sensitive.
Recently, a screenshot of an internal conversation related to Huawei has been circulating online. The contents reveal that Huawei’s Chairman Liang Hua has been unable to reach Ren Zhengfei for two consecutive days, expressing concerns that Ren Zhengfei may have encountered an accident. Therefore, they attempted to contact Huawei’s Vice Chairman Meng Wanzhou to inquire about the situation, but it was rumored that Meng Wanzhou and over a dozen family members are suspected to have simultaneously gone “missing.”
The screenshot also mentioned that in the early hours of the 11th, a nanny car departed from Ren Zhengfei’s residence and headed towards the Luozui area of the Dapeng Peninsula in Shenzhen, disappearing thereafter, suggesting possible departure from the mainland via waterways. During the same period, videos have been frequently shared online showing a large presence of armed police near Huawei’s headquarters.
However, there is currently no reliable evidence to confirm that Ren Zhengfei has indeed fled. Some netizens suggest that the footage of armed police deployment might be old. Neither Ren Zhengfei’s family, Huawei, nor the CCP have responded to these rumors.
Chinese affairs expert Wang He told Dajiyuan that this rumor is unlikely to be true, but it is not baseless. Under normal circumstances, if Huawei’s management fails to contact Ren Zhengfei, it is a significant issue that would not be easily leaked.
Wang He mentioned that the fact that Huawei and the CCP have not clarified the rumor of “Ren Zhengfei fleeing” is suspicious. One possibility is that, due to the new CCP entry and exit regulations taking effect on September 15, some individuals may have fabricated rumors of Ren Zhengfei’s escape to undermine the CCP. However, another possibility is that Ren Zhengfei has already left and is currently engaged in secret negotiations with the CCP. If Ren Zhengfei is safe, the authorities are likely to make him appear publicly in the near future.
On September 9, just a few days ago, the criminal case against Huawei filed by the United States for conspiracy and extortion officially began in the Eastern District of Brooklyn, New York. The federal judge ruled that Meng Wanzhou’s statements made in a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2021, admitting that Huawei had provided misleading information to financial institutions regarding its business dealings with Iran, could be used as adverse evidence in the company’s criminal trial.
In December 2018, Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver, Canada, after which the U.S. lodged multiple criminal charges against Huawei and its subsidiaries. In September 2021, Meng Wanzhou reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and returned to China. However, the U.S.’s criminal lawsuit against Huawei as a corporate entity has not been withdrawn and continues to add new charges.
Wang He stated that Ren Zhengfei is a front figure in the technological war between the CCP and the U.S. For example, Huawei recently launched new smartphone models and chip sales. However, there is public skepticism about Huawei’s actual capabilities and aversion to its promotions. Moreover, when Meng Wanzhou was rescued by the CCP, she ended up signing a guilty plea agreement, greatly embarrassing the CCP, and now her plea agreement serves as evidence in the U.S.’s criminal case against Huawei, dealing a significant blow to the CCP. In such a situation, it is possible that Ren Zhengfei has been under surveillance for a long time.
Wang He mentioned that if Ren Zhengfei does not appear for an extended period, it could mean that something has happened to him or that he is currently in negotiations with the CCP and has gone into hiding. Ren Zhengfei himself is a symbol appointed by Xi Jinping, and with the Fifth Plenum about to commence, anti-Xi forces may take the opportunity to strike at Xi. Therefore, at this time, rumors of Ren Zhengfei’s escape abound, raising suspicions of underlying political entanglements.
Regarding the reports of Ren Zhengfei and his family going missing, potentially fleeing overseas by sea, Taiwanese financial news site Hu Cai Ping stated on the evening of the 13th that it is unlikely that Ren Zhengfei and his family have actually fled. Their passports should be restricted, and at least Ren Zhengfei himself must be under surveillance, making it challenging for them to escape.
Professor Fan Shiping of the Department of East Asian Studies at National Taiwan Normal University told NTD Television that if even Ren Zhengfei has departed, it reflects a significant problem faced by Chinese entrepreneurs. Previously, Alibaba’s founder Jack Ma was summoned for questioning, and Ant Group’s IPO was forced to halt. Given the current economic difficulties within the CCP, entrepreneurs may face increased tax investigations and liabilities, raising their risks in China. The CCP may be targeting entrepreneurs for political or financial purges. Naturally, these entrepreneurs would be concerned and possibly considering leaving China.