Wouldn't they just kill the guy if that was the motive? Demanding ransom would just increase the chances of getting caught and having others exposed.
Good points.
With Chinese in the US helping expose Hunter Biden’s actions, I’d read that the CCP was using people in the US to “get them”. So, I don’t know if there’s an angle here. If they wanted information (who did you give X to?) and maybe the thugs want a cut (give us money before we kill you). I dunno, but you have good points.
Probably true.
Kidnapping makes it SEEM a purely criminal matter.
There is however the possibility of deliberate misdirection and also intimidation.
Its possible that the true target of the operation is not the victim, but of a close relative, the father or an uncle say. Intimidation of the whole family of the victim would work better if the ransom is adding stress plus insult to injury, as of course the “big guy” actually targeted would be the one to cough up the bucks, which may add to family strain. Worse yet if they kill the victim anyway.
Also, if it is necessary to make US authorities think it is just a criminal matter, to make it “deniable”.
This stuff can get very messy, wheels within wheels.