Honestly with Bari Weiss Vanished by China: One Couple’s Story
Dec 1, 2021
Desmond Shum, a Chinese entrepreneur and author of Red Roulette, shares his harrowing journey from riches to rags after his ex-wife Whitney vanished under mysterious circumstances tied to the Chinese Communist Party. He reflects on the culture of fear and disappearances in China, drawing parallels to other high-profile cases like Peng Shuai. Shum delves into the intertwining of business and politics, revealing how Western corporations navigate China's shifting dynamics, all while grappling with the moral implications of doing business in a repressive regime.
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Whitney Duan's Disappearance and Reappearance
- Desmond Shum's ex-wife, Whitney Duan, disappeared in 2017.
- She reappeared four years later, urging him to stop his book's publication.
The "Black Five" Label
- Desmond Shum's grandfather was labeled "Black Five" by the CCP due to his intellectual background.
- This impacted opportunities for his whole family for generations.
Shared Housing in Shanghai
- Shum's family lived in a small part of their confiscated house, sharing it with two other families.
- As a child, he didn't find this unusual; it was simply his reality.
