Liang Tao, vice-president of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, said at a press conference that the investigation into the Jack Ma-founded company that started in December wouldn’t undermine its business development, and was not a move against private firms. (South China Morning Post)

Talking point: Liang said at the press conference that financial regulators’ investigations into internet platform companies were not aimed at any specific company. He made the comments days after founder Ma re-emerged after nearly three months of silence. His disappearance from public settings came after he criticized state-owned banks and regulators halted Ant Group’s planned US$37-billion initial public offering in November.