Jack Ma, after being missing for several months, has finally resurfaced for the first time in a video that was released today. There was speculation that Ma was missing because of CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) crackdown on big tech in the country and scrutiny over Ma’s internet empire. 

The 56-year-old billionaire was spotted in a video where he interacted with 100 rural teachers via video conference, according to a local government media report. This marks the billionaire's first appearance since late October as the CEO was suspected of being detained for making comments against the Chinese authorities.

© Reuters

Jack Ma was first reported missing after he failed to appear as a judge for a talent show he created in October 2020. There were many theories, however according to people familiar with the matter, Ma was not missing but “laying low” following a Chinese regulatory crackdown. Some sources also claimed that Ma was asked to maintain a “low profile.”

Before his disappearance, Ma criticised China’s regulatory system in Shanghai during a forum in Shanghai. He criticised the regulatory system for “stifling innovation” and compared the country’s banks to “pawnshops."

© Twitter

In the newly released 50-second video, Ma is looking to spend more time on philanthropy and did not make any mention of the investigation into Ant Group. Prior to his disappearance, Ant Group was prevented from a massive $37 billion IPO by the Chinese authorities who asked the company to revamp its lending business to meet capital requirements. Soon after, an anti-monopoly investigation was launched against the Alibaba Group last month. 

BREAKING: Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who had not been seen in public in nearly 3 months, appears on video, saying: "We’ll meet again after the epidemic is over" pic.twitter.com/aFQyDWB7wQ

Every year, Jack Ma holds a ceremony organised by his foundation for teachers in the Chinese seaside city of Sanya. He addressed the teachers who won the Jack Ma Rural Teachers Award in the video. “We cannot meet in Sanya due to the epidemic,” he said in the speech, which did not discuss his whereabouts. “When the epidemic is over, we must find time to make up for everyone’s trip to Sanya, and then we will meet again,” he added.

The company plans to raise at least $5 billion through the sale of a U.S. dollar-denominated bond this month which could be the reason behind Ma’s resurfacing on video. 

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