Jack Ma is Back after Missing for Months

The Chinese business magnate, investor and philanthropist, Jack Ma resurfaces after staying out of public eye for months. His reemergence will quash intense speculations about the plight of the billionaire undergoing intense scrutiny over his internet empire by the Chinese government.

The second wealthiest person in China appeared on an online conference to address scores of teachers, which is a part of an annual event Jack hosts to recognize the achievements of rural educators. His appearance was first reported in a local blog, and was confirmed by people familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg.

Jack was absent from the public eyes for quite a few months, and his reemergence will surely help quell persistent rumors about his fate while Beijing pursues investigations into online finance titan Ant Group Co and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Jack went missing since early November when the Chinese regulators torpedoed Ant’s $35 billion IPO, tightened fintech regulations, and later ordered an overhaul of Ant and launched a separate antitrust probe into Alibaba.

These steps by the Chinese authorizes are viewed as a measure to wield the control of Chinese tech giants on its economy. The flurry of actions against his twin companies drove home how Beijing has lost patience with the outsize power of its technology moguls, perceived now as a threat to the political and financial stability President Xi Jinping prizes most.