Chinese Regulators Open Investigation Into E-Commerce Giant Alibaba

China's market regulator announced Thursday that it had opened an investigation into the country's e-commerce giant, Alibaba, for alleged anti-competitive activities.

In a short statement issued Thursday, China's State Administration for Market Regulation said that the probe is focusing on allegations that the company forces merchants on its website to sign exclusive cooperation agreements, preventing them from selling products on rival platforms.

A spokesperson for Alibaba said the company "will actively cooperate with the regulators on the investigation. Company business operations remain normal."

The inquiry into Alibaba comes more than...