China’s Market Regulator Summons Tech Titans: Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com Among Seven Firms in Anti-Competition Push

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) summoned seven major Chinese platform companies, including Alibaba Group, ByteDance’s Douyin, Baidu, Tencent, JD.com, Meituan, and Taobao Flash Sales, on February 13. Authorities demanded strict adherence to key laws including the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and the E-commerce Law, emphasizing platform responsibility and fair competition. The directive explicitly targets the elimination of ‘neijuan’-style competition, a term highlighting excessive internal rivalry that harms market health and innovation. This action reflects Beijing’s ongoing campaign to rein in the power of big tech, directly impacting investor sentiment and valuation models for Chinese equities. Companies must now balance compliance with growth, setting the stage for a new phase of platform regulation in China that prioritizes sustainable development over aggressive expansion.