Top Chinese economist 'disappears' after detention for criticising Xi Jinping's policies: Reports

Did China make yet another high-profile individual 'disappear'? Top economist Zhu Hengpeng, who was the deputy director of a state-run think tank, has reportedly been detained after private comments he made in the WeChat app on the Chinese economy under Xi Jinping, and has not been seen in public for several months now, according to multiple reports.

The government advisor who was with the Institute of Economics at the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences or Cass was investigated for his alleged criticism of Xi's management of the Chinese economy, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Watch: Top Chinese Economist Missing After Remarks On Xi Jinping: Report

'He was "placed under investigation, detained and removed from his posts," WSJ reported citing people familiar with the matter.

Now, he has disappeared from public view after after being disciplined. Zhu, 55, made some remarks about the state of the Chinese economy, and possibly about Xi.

He was detained, and put under investigation and has not been seen in public since then.

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Zhu is a veteran at Cass, having worked there for over 20 years. He was the deputy director of the Institute of Economics and director of the Public Policy Research Center. 

His last public appearance in April was at an event organised by Chinese media outlet Caixin, according to the reports.

The development comes amid media reports that the Institute of Economics was seeing a leadership shake-up, with its director and secretary also removed along with Zhu.

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Sing Tao Daily reported that Zhu is no longer listed on the Cass website. It appears to be part of a larger scrub, as sites on his work at Tsinghua University have also disappeared, The Guardian newspaper reported.

Cass, while it reports to the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council, has often provided frank opinion and analysis. But under Xi, questioning the Chinese economic policies, or the president himself, are fraught with risks.

China monitors and obstructs comments made on the government on all web platforms, including, it appears, private chats.

While it is not clear what Zhu wrote on the private WeChat group, Sing Tao Daily said it was about “improperly discussed central policies”, while WSJ said he referred to Xi's mortality.

The reports of Zhu's disappearance came around the time the Chinese Central Bank launched a massive stimulus package, including interest rate cuts, to help the ailing economy, which is likely to miss even the modest five per cent GDP growth target this year.

(With inputs from agencies)