Ever since China brought down the hammer on the incredible success story of Jack Ma last year, there has been a persistent question regarding the intentions of Beijing. Was it specifically motivated by Jack Ma stepping out of line? Was it to send a message to other Chinese tech giants that their joyride to the top was over? Or was there something deeper at play? More importantly, why now? To recap, last year, China made a last-minute move to health the IPO of Ma's fintech conglomerate Ant Group while also announcing a larger investigation of its parent company Alibaba. Commentators noted with concern that all this coincided with the disappearance of Jack Ma from the public sphere among a wave of unexpectedly bitter public criticism levelled against him. The last part was particularly puzzling to note for observers as Ma had always been a popular figure in China. A living representation of the wealth and success promised by the CCP if one were to work hard and stay within the lines defined by the party.