Whistleblower reveals chilling mystery of billionaire ex-wife’s disappearance in China

One of China’s richest women vanished four years ago. She hasn’t been heard from since – until her ex-husband received a terrifying call.

Whitney Duan was one of China’s richest women, with a multibillion-dollar fortune to her name.

But that wasn’t enough to protect her from Beijing’s “ruthless” regime.

Despite her vast wealth and powerful contacts, Ms Duan vanished from the streets of the capital in 2017 after her primary ally, the wife of former Premier Wen Jiabao, received a life sentence for “corruption”.

She’s not been seen for four years – and it was only as her ex-husband and former business partner Desmond Shum was poised to publish an explosive book about her disappearance that her family finally heard from her.

Weihong “Whitney” Duan and Desmond Shum, pictured in happier times. Picture: Desmond Shum

Speaking to 60 Minutes, Mr Shum, whose book, Red Roulette, details China’s corruption, said his ex had called him a few days ago just before the book’s release, begging him to pull the pin.

Mr Shum, who now lives in London with the couple’s 12-year-old son, said in her first call, Ms Duan asked what would happen to their son if something happened to him as a result of the book, and then questioned whether something could happen to the child – questions Mr Shum found “threatening”.

And in a second call, she attempted to incriminate him in some mysterious “crime”, which she was unable to name, before claiming the book “may cost a life”.

Mr Shum said it was “definitely implied” that the life was a reference to their son, and said he believed his ex-wife had been reading from a script during the call.

According to Mr Shum, Ms Duan likely fell out of favour with President Xi Jinping’s regime after associating “with the wrong crowd or the wrong faction of the power struggle”.

Weihong “Whitney” Duan, pictured with her son and ex-husband, before she went missing. Picture: Desmund Shum

“ … maybe she learned about something that’s very inconvenient for the leadership,” he said.

“ … but then, it’s not a crime by itself. So there’s a, you’re such a nuisance, we’re just gonna silence you and let’s make you disappear.”

He said the call contained startling clues about what Ms Duan’s life had been like during the past four years.

“She hadn’t had any information for four years on the outside world. I mean, her mum passed away in June. She didn’t know that. She didn’t know the pandemic was going on for two years,” he said.

Weihong “Whitney” Duan was worth up to three billion dollars when she vanished. Picture: Desmond Shum/NY Post composite

“I mean, they intentionally cut off all information from outside, and then as time moves on, most people give up hope, because there’s like, no end to things, right?”

He said it was a method used by the authorities to “terrorise the people they have taken” in order to get them to admit to a crime they may not be guilty of, or to give up information.

Ms Duan is just one of a string of wealthy, famous individuals to have disappeared, been banished or punished under Xi Jinping’s reign.

Billionaire singer and actress Zhao Wei was recently “erased” from China’s social media and entertainment platforms, while television actress Zheng Shuang was last month fined $62 million after she allegedly attempted to hide the full extent of her income.

In 2018, actress Fan Bingbing abruptly disappeared, and has barely been seen or heard from since making a public apology for not paying taxes several months after she first vanished.

And the Communist Party also “disappeared” tech billionaire Jack Ma and cancelled the public float of his Ant Group.

According to Mr Shum, “money counts for nothing” under the current government.

“Your bloodline, your being (of) a red aristocratic bloodline protects you. Everyone else is expendable,” he said.

He said President Xi Jinping now had absolute power.

“I mean, the guy just may change the constitution at will and make himself president and chairman of the party for life,” he said.