Alibaba is the world’s biggest e-commerce company and touches the lives of nearly everyone in China. Its founder is a flamboyant and outspoken billionaire, Jack Ma. However, Mr Ma’s been keeping a low profile since a clash with the Chinese government in 2020, when a plan to float Alibaba’s fintech operations on the stock exchange was suddenly halted by the authorities. Then, in the spring of 2021, regulators slapped Alibaba with a $2.8bn fine, saying it had abused its market position for years. Fraser Howie, a prolific author on the Chinese financial system, explains the significance of Alibaba to Duncan Bartlett, Editor of Asian Affairs magazine.
China In Context: Episode 21
Broadcast date: June 29, 2021
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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.
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SOAS China Institute (SCI)
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Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0