The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) recently revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has misused Interpol to issue a red notice against the ex-husband of Zhao Wei, implicating China’s richest man, Jack Ma, in the process.
Although the report identifies the wanted individual as Zhao Wei’s ex-husband, he is referred to by the alias “H” to protect his identity. The CCP requested Interpol to issue a red notice against him, resulting in his arrest by French authorities in Bordeaux. What drew further attention was Jack Ma’s personal involvement when he was pressured by the CCP to call H and persuade him to return to China while awaiting extradition hearings in Bordeaux.
In 2021, H received a phone call from Jack Ma, who advised him, “I personally think you have no other choice. If you don’t come back now, he will definitely go after you with this policy.” Ma revealed that Chinese state security personnel had approached him directly to urge H to return.
According to the report, H, aged 48, was born in mainland China but is a Singaporean citizen who has known Jack Ma for many years. In 2020, he resided in Bordeaux, France, where he was wanted by the CCP for alleged money laundering.
However, court documents reveal that the true intention behind the CCP’s actions was to have H appear in court and assist in the investigation of former Deputy Minister of Public Security, Sun Lijun.
The ICIJ pointed out that the CCP’s misuse of red notices extends beyond suspected corrupt individuals to target dissidents and individuals in the political and business sectors.
Radio Free Asia also highlighted the CCP’s use of surveillance, hacking attacks, asset freezes, and threats against dissidents abroad.
H received numerous calls from Chinese officials and friends, some promising to drop the charges, while others directly threatened him. One warning call stated, “Within three days, your entire family will be arrested.” True to the threat, H’s family members were indeed detained a few days later.
At the time, Zhao Wei also faced pressure. Wei Fu Jie, Deputy Director of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection’s special task force handling Sun Lijun’s case, called H once and mentioned having a conversation with his wife.
In July 2021, the Bordeaux Court of Appeals in France rejected the CCP’s extradition request. Subsequently, Interpol revoked the red notice issued against H.
The ICIJ emphasized that H’s case was one of those where Interpol deemed the red notice misuse and subsequently revoked it.
As of now, both Jack Ma and H have yet to publicly comment on the incident.
In October 2020, Jack Ma publicly criticized China’s financial regulatory practices. This led to the suspension of Ant Group’s IPO and Ma’s disappearance from the public eye for several years until gradually reappearing in 2023.
Since 2014, under the guise of the “Operation Fox Hunt” targeting anti-corruption and cross-border fugitives, the CCP has expanded its pursuit to include dissidents.
News Investigating Team