Why China’s tech giants are cozying up to the Communist Party

The move by Didi Chuxing, a $56 billion startup, shows how leading Chinese tech firms, once hesitant to advertise political connections, are now increasingly promoting their ties to the party — especially after running into trouble with authorities.

“Tech entrepreneurs are seeking to burnish their party credentials, gain brownie points,” said Duncan Clark, the chairman of Beijing-based investment advisory firm BDA.