Zhu Hengpeng, a respected economist and deputy director at the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), has reportedly been detained and stripped of his roles after allegedly criticizing President Xi Jinping’s economic policies. His comments, made in a private WeChat group chat, are said to have included subtle criticism of Xi and China’s struggling economy. The incident highlights the increasing suppression of dissent and negative commentary on China’s economic health.