Activist looking into Ivanka Trump supplier held

BEIJING: An activist investigating working conditions at a supplier for Ivanka Trump’s brand in China has been detained, his NGO said yesterday, putting another spotlight on Chinese business activities linked to the US presidential family.

Two other men who were working on the investigation have been missing since Sunday, according to China Labor Watch, a New York-based non-governmental organisation.

“In 17 years [since our organisation was founded], we have done countless such investigations and have never had any problems,” China Labor Watch director Li Qiang said.

“But this is the first time we’ve investigated Ivanka Trump [manufacturers], so it may very well be related to the brand.”

Ivanka Trump is US President Donald Trump’s daughter and a White House adviser. Her husband, Jared Kushner, is also a top presidential aide and his own family business has come under scrutiny over its financial dealings in China.

Mr Trump lambasted China over its trade practices during the US presidential campaign, but he has established a friendly rapport with President Xi Jinping since they met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in April.

“We appeal to President Trump, Ivanka Trump herself, and to her related brand company to advocate and press for the release of our activists,” Mr Li said.

Hua Haifeng, who was working undercover with the two other men in Jiangxi province, has been held by police and accused of illegally using “eavesdropping equipment”, Mr Li said.

Deng Guilian, Mr Hua’s wife, was notified of his arrest by Jiangxi authorities on Tuesday. Mr Hua and the two other activists, Li Zhao and Su Heng, have been unreachable since Sunday.

“The accusation from Jiangxi police has no factual basis,” Mr Li said.

He noted the activists were probing two factories owned by major footwear producer Huajian Group. They discovered that employees were required to work overtime while being paid less than the minimum wage, according to Mr Li, who alleged that the factory issued fake pay slips that showed wages greater than the workers’ actual compensation. He said the activists also found that the factory employed “student labourers”.

Huajian Group and the Ivanka Trump brand did not immediately return messages seeking comment.