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Global South·Founded 1903
South China Morning Post
CenterAlibaba Group
The South China Morning Post is a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper acquired by Alibaba Group in 2016. Founded in 1903, it is one of the oldest and most prominent English-language papers in Asia. Alibaba's acquisition raised questions about editorial independence regarding Chinese government and business coverage.
Ownership Chain
South China Morning PostAlibaba GroupJack Ma / Alibaba Group
Funding Sources
subscriptionsadvertisingAlibaba Group investment
Known Conflicts of Interest
- •Alibaba Group, as a major Chinese tech conglomerate, has extensive business interests that intersect with SCMP's coverage areas including tech, trade, and China policy.
- •Jack Ma's complicated relationship with Chinese regulators — including his temporary disappearance in 2020 — raises questions about SCMP's editorial freedom on sensitive Chinese political stories.
- •China's regulatory environment means that major Chinese companies must maintain relationships with the CCP, creating indirect state influence.
Notable Connections
- •Alibaba Group has extensive business dealings with the Chinese government
- •Jack Ma is a member of the Chinese Communist Party, though he has also clashed with regulators
- •SCMP removed its paywall after Alibaba acquisition, shifting to an advertising and influence model
- •Hong Kong's 2020 National Security Law has implications for press freedom at all Hong Kong media outlets