Paris, June 14 -- In a striking example of transnational repression, the Chinese government allegedly used billionaire Jack Ma to pressure a prominent exiled businessman into returning to China, part of a broader pattern of Beijing misusing Interpol mechanisms to silence political targets abroad.

According to an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the businessman, identified only as "H", was living in France and awaiting an extradition hearing in 2021 when he received a call from Ma. The Alibaba founder told H, he was asked by Chinese officials to persuade him to return and cooperate in a political case.

"They said I'm the only one who can persuade you to return," Ma reportedly told H, who ...