A few weeks ago, we noted Jack Ma’s ideological sparring with the Communist Party of China (CPC). Recall Ma began his career as a teacher. Well, brave, brave Teacher Ma is at it again. On 10 September 2024, he circulated a memo to Alibaba employees commemorating the company’s 25th anniversary. (Jack Ma Urges Alibaba to Trust in Market Forces, Innovation – WSJ) Key points include:
- Competition will make Alibaba stronger.
- Alibaba needs to trust in the power of markets and innovation.
- No single company can stay at the top forever in any industry.
While American readers may find these points trivial, the CPC will not. Ma’s framing of these ideas invites readers to replace “Alibaba” and “the company” with “the CPC.” Ma ensures his intention for readers to replace names:
“The reason we’re Alibaba is because we have idealistic beliefs, we trust the future, believe in the market. We believe that only a company that can create real value for society can keep operating for 102 years.”
The first sentence contrasts Alibaba’s idealistic, forward-looking, market-savviness with a fatalistic CPC that looks backward to re-write the past and erodes innovation by forcing “Chinese characteristics” into markets. Alibaba behaves differently than the CPC in many ways.
The second sentence confirms the aim of Ma’s jab. Alibaba just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Formed in July 1921, the CPC just passed its 102nd birthday.
With a threadbare shroud, brave, brave Teacher Ma asks can the CPC create real value for society beyond 102 years?
American leaders should show similar courage.
A few weeks ago, we noted Jack Ma’s ideological sparring with the Communist Party of China (CPC). Recall Ma began his career as a teacher. Well, brave, brave Teacher Ma is at it again. On 10 September 2024, he circulated a memo to Alibaba employees commemorating the company’s 25th anniversary. (Jack Ma Urges Alibaba to Trust in Market Forces, Innovation – WSJ) Key points include:
While American readers may find these points trivial, the CPC will not. Ma’s framing of these ideas invites readers to replace “Alibaba” and “the company” with “the CPC.” Ma ensures his intention for readers to replace names:
“The reason we’re Alibaba is because we have idealistic beliefs, we trust the future, believe in the market. We believe that only a company that can create real value for society can keep operating for 102 years.”
The first sentence contrasts Alibaba’s idealistic, forward-looking, market-savviness with a fatalistic CPC that looks backward to re-write the past and erodes innovation by forcing “Chinese characteristics” into markets. Alibaba behaves differently than the CPC in many ways.
The second sentence confirms the aim of Ma’s jab. Alibaba just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Formed in July 1921, the CPC just passed its 102nd birthday.
With a threadbare shroud, brave, brave Teacher Ma asks can the CPC create real value for society beyond 102 years?
American leaders should show similar courage.
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