Ex-China Editor Hu Banned on Social Media After Post on Economy

  • Prominent influencer says private sector may equal state firms
  • Beijing narrowing space for debate as economy faces slowdown
Hu XijinPhotographer: Gilles Sabrie/Bloomberg
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Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of China’s state-backed Global Times, has been banned from posting on social media after he wrote controversial comments about the world’s no. 2 economy, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The prominent influencer’s accounts — including on the microblogging site Weibo where he has nearly 25 million followers — have been suspended, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters. The person didn’t specify the length of the ban.