Dive Brief:
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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has been asked to leave Taiwan within six months because the government says its local entity was improperly registered as a Singapore company.
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“We will actively communicate with related parties to clarify the issues and, if necessary, will take proper actions to protect the legitimate interests of Alibaba.com,” Hangzhou-based Alibaba said in an e-mailed statement, according to Bloomberg.
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Founder and chairman Jack Ma and other Alibaba spokespeople insist that the company has provided ample evidence to Taiwanese authorities of its Chinese control.
Dive Insight:
Alibaba and chairman-founder Jack Ma are certainly learning that being the big kid on the playground also makes it a big target in some areas. As it contends with more arcane issues like these, which involve complex Taiwanese-Chinese political and financial conflicts, it must also address increased scrutiny of its grey market and even of its recent blockbuster IPO.