BEIJING – As the coronavirus spread, the world’s richest communist dug into his deep pockets. Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and a member of the ruling Communist Party, helped to pay for 1,000 ventilators delivered to New York in April.
Ma's foundation also is giving ventilators, masks and other supplies in Africa, Latin America and Asia.The pandemic marks the debut of China's business elite as global humanitarian donors alongside their American, European and Japanese counterparts.
Ma, Alibaba and other Chinese companies and tycoons are donating hundreds of millions of dollars of medical supplies, food and cash in dozens of countries.Video service TikTok has promised $250 million to pay health workers and help others.