Alibaba CEO Warns The World: “If Trade Stops, War Starts”

Chinese tech billionaire Jack Ma has issued a (slightly scary) warning about the potential of trade wars.

Ma visited Australia on Saturday to celebrate the opening of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba’s Australia and New Zealand headquarters. There, he warned—in no certain terms—a retreat from unfettered trade would result in global unrest.

“If trade stops, war starts,” Ma said. “We have to actively prove that trade helps people to communicate. And we should have fair trade, transparent trade, inclusive trade.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has vocally condemned international trade policies, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Since taking presidency, Trump has signed an executive order to formally withdraw America from the TPP.

Ma told listeners a globalised economy was about more than just the transactions of money and goods. “Trade is about trade of values. Trade of culture,” he expressed.

The billionaire made headlines last month when he personally visited Trump; he pledged Alibaba would help create one million jobs for the United States. Trump has repeatedly criticised China and its trade policies.

Alibaba’s CEO had a chat with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, saying they had a wonderful discussion. Items on the agenda included the possibility of Alibaba collaborating with the Australian government to create a regional “e-hub”.

What’s an e-hub? Essentially, it’d be a trade zone that allows for unrestricted online trade with less border bureaucracy to deal with.

Returning to the whole “war might start” point, tensions between the U.S. and China are certainly very, very, palpable. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea and trade restrictions are just some of the factors suggesting war isn't all that unbelievable.

In fact, there's also been a great deal of internal upheaval within the states. Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and 93 other tech companies have called Trump's travel ban unlawful. They argue his policy will make it more difficult and expensive to hire the world's best talent—thus—impeding them from competing in the global marketplace.

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