Alibaba's founder Jack Ma is one of China's most famous people and a superstar in the international tech market.

After criticizing the Chinese banking system, he disappeared from the public eye in October, three months later he unexpectedly appeared at a web conference and handed out a prize to teachers.

Rana Mitter, professor and head of Oxford University's China Center, says that Jack Mas' disappearance during the autumn is a clear message to the private business community.

- No Chinese, no matter how glamorous, important or famous the person is, can be bigger than the Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jingping, says Rana Mitter.

Prevent Chinese oligarchs

In November, the Chinese government abruptly stopped the IPO of Jack Mas' financial company Ant Financial.

The IPO would be the largest in the world.

- It will probably take place in a year or so, but at a third, or a quarter, of previous valuation, says Frédéric Cho.

The stoppage of the introduction may be part of the state's work to tame the country's giant companies that have achieved monopoly status.

- In the coming years, the state will deal with oligopolies and companies that have a monopoly-like position, says Professor Rana Mitter.

- China's new competition authorities will force companies like Alibaba to scale down to create a healthier market economy, says Frédéric Cho, who also believes Chinese leaders have studied what happened after the fall of the Soviet Union with the emergence of oligarchs, they do not want to get there.   

"A sunny island or prison"

Christer Ljungwall, who has been researching China for many years, believes that both Jack Ma and his company are important to the Chinese business community, both as innovators and inspirers.

He believes that two different fates can await Jack Ma.

Either prison or he becomes a Bill Gates-like philanthropist on a sunny island. It all depends on what place Jack Ma finds in the political system.

Foreign correspondent Tilde Lewin believes that both Jack Ma and his company have a future ahead of them, and that many international e-commerce companies also believe in his company.

- People look at his company to be inspired by their innovations, says Tilde Lewin.

Do not miss "Jack is back?"

episode 2 of Ekonomibyrån on SVT Play.

It is also broadcast on SVT2 Monday night at 21:45