&w=3840&q=100)
China misused Interpol's red notice, used Jack Ma to pressure exile abroad
In a striking example of transnational repression, the Chinese government allegedly used billionaire Jack Ma to pressure a prominent exiled businessman into returning to China, part of a broader pattern of Beijing misusing Interpol mechanisms to silence political targets abroad.
According to an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the businessman, identified only as "H", was living in France and awaiting an extradition hearing in 2021 when he received a call from Ma. The Alibaba founder told H, he was asked by Chinese officials to persuade him to return and cooperate in a political case.
"They said I'm the only one who can persuade you to return," Ma reportedly told H, who was shocked by the call. Chinese authorities had earlier issued an Interpol red notice accusing H of financial crimes. But court documents reveal the real goal was to force him to testify against Sun Lijun, a former vice minister of public security who had fallen out of favour with Beijing.
"I think you don't have any other choice," Ma warned. "If you don't come back, they'll destroy you."
H, a naturalised Singaporean citizen, had been arrested in France based on the red notice, a mechanism increasingly used by authoritarian regimes like China to pursue dissidents and political targets overseas. The charges cited in the notice were unrelated to the Sun Lijun case, raising concerns about political manipulation of international law enforcement tools.
This case is part of ICIJ's "China Targets" investigation, which found that China has repeatedly used Interpol to track and coerce critics, exiles, and businesspeople abroad. Experts say these tactics undermine the credibility of global police cooperation.
Despite growing concerns, Interpol has taken little public action to discipline China for its misuse of red notices, the ICIJ reported. The case of H is a stark reminder of how international institutions can be exploited to carry out authoritarian agendas far beyond national borders.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Alexandr Wang educational qualifications: How an MIT dropout built a $29 billion AI empire
In the quiet scientific corridors of Los Alamos, New Mexico—home to some of the world's top physicists—Alexandr Wang was born into brilliance. His parents, both Chinese immigrants and nuclear physicists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, were no strangers to pushing boundaries. But no one could have predicted that their son, a teenager with a curious mind and a fascination for data, would one day become one of the youngest billionaires steering the future of artificial intelligence. Wang's story isn't one of tradition—it's one of bold decisions, sharp intellect, and a relentless pursuit of innovation. A leap from MIT to Silicon Valley Before stepping into the world of startups, Wang was already sharpening his technical skills at Quora. He enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most prestigious engineering schools in the world. But traditional education couldn't hold his attention for long. Within a year, Wang made a defining move—dropping out of MIT and joining the startup accelerator Y Combinator. It was there, in 2016, that he teamed up with Lucy Guo, a fellow Quora alum, to launch Scale AI. The company focused on a behind-the-scenes but vital task in the AI revolution: supplying large volumes of high-quality, human-labelled data. Their work quickly became foundational for systems like OpenAI 's ChatGPT and self-driving car algorithms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Scale AI's meteoric rise In just two years, Wang and Guo found themselves on Forbes ' '30 Under 30' list for enterprise technology. However, their partnership was short-lived. Guo left the company amid reported differences over product vision—though some sources suggest she was forced out. Despite the internal turbulence, Scale AI soared. By 2019, the company had reached unicorn status after raising $100 million from Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. A few years later, another massive fundraising round brought in $580 million, valuing the company at $7 billion. At 24, Wang became the world's youngest self-made billionaire. Partnering with Meta for the future of AI In a major development reported by Reuters, Meta recently acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $15 billion, placing the company's valuation at over $29 billion. The partnership wasn't just about money. It marked a strategic leap in the AI race. As part of the agreement, Alexandr Wang now leads a 50-person research lab at Meta dedicated to building artificial superintelligence (ASI)—AI systems designed to surpass human cognitive abilities. The move signals Meta's serious intent to rival OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft in next-gen AI innovation. A vision beyond billion-dollar valuations From his beginnings in New Mexico to leading a multibillion-dollar company and shaping Meta's AI research, Alexandr Wang has followed an unconventional but visionary path. His journey reflects the new face of tech leadership—young, bold, and deeply rooted in data. Still in his twenties, Wang isn't just building tools for today's AI. He's helping define what artificial intelligence will mean for the world tomorrow. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Indian EVs at risk! Delay in Beijing's rare earth magnets can decelerate auto sector growth; China tightens export rules
India's car industry could be in trouble as China's stricter control over rare earth magnet exports and shipment clearances delays may slow down electric vehicle production, Crisil Ratings said. The rating agency said that a disruption of even over a month can affect EV launches, production and push back the sector's growth trajectory. Rare earth magnets Rare earth magnets are low cost but crucial to permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) used in EVs and hybrids for their high torque and energy efficiency. In internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, rare earth magnets are primarily used in electric power steering systems and select other motorised components. China's restriction on export The alarm stems from Beijing's recent export restrictions, imposed in April 2025, on seven rare earth elements and finished magnets. The move, which mandates detailed end-use declarations and bans defence-linked or US-bound re-exports, has resulted in delayed clearances and growing shipment backlogs. 'With the clearance process taking at least 45 days, this added scrutiny has significantly delayed approvals. And the growing backlog has further slowed clearances, tightening global supply chains,' the report said, cited by ANI. India, which relied on China for over 80% of its 540-tonne magnet imports in the last fiscal, has began to feel the squeeze. Crisil revealed that by the end of May, around 30 import requests from Indian companies had received clearance from New Delhi — yet none had been approved by Chinese authorities, and no shipments had landed. 'The supply squeeze comes just as the auto sector is preparing for aggressive EV rollouts,' said Anuj Sethi, senior director at Crisil Ratings. 'Over a dozen new electric models are planned for launch, most built on PMSM platforms. While most automakers currently have 4-6 weeks of inventory, prolonged delays could start affecting vehicle production, with EV models facing deferrals or rescheduling from July 2025. A broader impact on two-wheelers (2W) and ICE PVs may follow if the supply bottlenecks persist for an extended period.' Passenger vehicle volumes are forecast to grow 2–4% in FY26, but EVs, starting from a lower base, are expected to rise 35–40%. Electric two-wheelers could expand 27%, outpacing the wider two-wheeler segment's 8–10% growth. Crisil warned that these projections could soften if supply constraints worsen. How is India dealing with Bejing's blow? The Indian government and automakers are now working on a twin-pronged strategy, in the short term, building strategic inventories, tapping alternative suppliers and stepping up domestic assembly under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. In the long run, the focus is on reducing import dependency by accelerating rare earth exploration, creating local processing capabilities and investing in recycling. In the diplomatic arena, India has opened direct lines of communication with Beijing to stabilise supply flows. 'We are in touch with the Chinese side, both here in Delhi as also in Beijing to bring predictability in supply chain for trade, consistent with international practices' said ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a press briefing. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, meanwhile, described China's export restrictions as a 'wake-up call' for the world. Speaking during his visit to Switzerland, Goyal said India was actively working to develop alternate supply chains and positioning itself as a credible partner for global businesses looking to reduce dependence on China. China's dominance in rare earth processing, controlling over 90% of the global magnet output, has left industries worldwide vulnerable. These magnets are not only vital for EVs but also used across sectors such as home appliances and renewable energy. Efforts are also being made to diversify sources. At the recent India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, India and five Central Asian nations (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) expressed interest in jointly exploring rare earths and critical minerals, potentially offering a longer-term buffer against global supply shocks. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Taiwan adds China's Huawei, SMIC to export control list amid trade tensions
Taiwan's Commerce Ministry has added Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, as trade and technology frictions between the self-ruled island, China and the United States increase. Inclusion on the strategic high-tech commodities list means Taiwanese companies will need to obtain export permits before selling goods to the respective companies. Other entities on the list include organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as other companies in China, Iran and elsewhere. The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion. Huawei and SMIC have both been sanctioned by the US. The two companies are producing China's most advanced homegrown artificial intelligence chips in an effort to compete with US-based Nvidia and supply Chinese tech firms with the much-needed chips amid export curbs. Taiwan is home the world's largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), a major supplier for Nvidia. Last November, the US ordered TSMC to halt supplies of certain advanced chips to Chinese customers as part of broader efforts to restrict China's access to cutting-edge technologies. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The US is Taiwan's biggest unofficial ally and arms seller.
