Opinion | For China’s titans of industry, nationalism is a double-edged sword
Chinese don’t need their country’s business leaders to be icons of morality and national pride. But they would like some accountability
During the interview, he was energetic and sharp-tongued, speaking frankly about the invisible barriers faced by private enterprises. He asserted that market access was either blocked by bureaucracy or manipulated by non-market forces.
Zong criticised excessive government intervention: “The government’s meddling hands need to be pulled back, so the invisible hand of the market can do its job.” He was skilled at explaining complex issues in plain language, carrying the candour and drive of an old-school entrepreneur, along with a keen sense of how to navigate the subtleties of state-business relations.
After the interview, I titled the segment “The Cloth-Shoe Top Billionaire”, a moniker that fit him perfectly. His simple clothing, 50-square-metre office and habit of eating in the staff canteen weren’t just his personal lifestyle choices; they were embraced and amplified by the public as the ideal image of a frugal and patriotic entrepreneur. It was a symbolic projection rooted in that era’s aspirations and emotional needs.
Who could have imagined that 11 years on, this persona would come crashing down?