. Military Space News .
SUPERPOWERS
Activist probing Ivanka Trump supplier in China detained: NGO
By Yanan WANG
Beijing (AFP) May 31, 2017


An activist investigating working conditions at a supplier for Ivanka Trump's fashion brand in China has been detained, his NGO said Wednesday, putting a fresh spotlight on Chinese business activities linked to the US presidential family.

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

"In 17 years (since our organisation was founded), we have done countless such investigations and have never had any problems," the group's director, Li Qiang, told AFP.

"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, whose fashion brand sells clothing, footwear and accessories.

Her husband, Jared Kushner, has joined her as a top aide to the US president and his own family business has come under scrutiny over its financial dealings in China.

Trump lambasted Beijing over its trade practices during the US presidential campaign, but he has established a friendly rapport with President Xi Jinping since they met at the US leader's Mar-a-Lago resort in April along with Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

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

Hua Haifeng, 36, has been held by police and accused of illegally using "eavesdropping equipment," said Li, who rejected the accusation.

The father-of-two was working undercover with the two other men, Li Zhao and Su Heng, in Jiangxi province.

Deng Guilian, Hua's wife, told AFP her husband had planned to return to their home for a holiday earlier this week.

She said she was notified of his arrest, but not where he was being held, on Tuesday in a phone call from a Jiangxi public security bureau.

Amnesty International said Hua was detained by mainland police last week after he tried to travel to Hong Kong to publicise the findings of his investigation.

"The trio appear to be the latest to fall foul of the Chinese authorities' aggressive campaign against human rights activists who have any ties to overseas organisations, using the pretence of 'national security,'" said William Nee, China researcher at the human rights group.

- 'Extremely worrying' -

Li said the activists were probing two factories owned by major footwear producer Huajian Group -- one in the city of Dongguan in southern Guangdong province, the other in Jiangxi's Ganzhou.

They discovered that employees were required to work overtime while being paid less than the minimum wage, according to Li, who alleged that the factory issued fake pay slips that showed wages greater than the workers' actual compensation.

Aside from Ivanka Trump, the factory also manufactures products for Coach, Nine West, Karl Lagerfeld, and Kendall + Kylie, Li said.

Huajian Group, the Ivanka Trump brand and police in Ganzhou did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesman for the company told AFP in October that it had made about 100,000 pairs of Ivanka Trump-branded shoes over the years.

Huajian president Zhang Huarong also told AFP at the time that the company was moving production to Africa, saying "some manufacturers can't even survive in China anymore".

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing she was "not aware" of the arrest.

But in general, she said, "we also hope that NGOs can also observe China's laws and not engage in any illegal activities."

The arrest highlights again the business dealings of the Trump family in China.

Last month, the Kushner family's real estate company sparked an uproar after his sister, Nicole Kushner Meyer, headlined events in Beijing and Shanghai to seek more than $150 million in investment in a US luxury apartment complex through a controversial US visa programme.

While Trump in January pledged to "buy American", US Customs bills of lading examined by AFP revealed that more than 50 tonnes of Ivanka Trump-branded items were streaming towards American ports from China even as he spoke.

Trump has himself sought dozens of trademarks in China.

- Crackdown -

Xi has overseen a tightening of controls on civil society since assuming power in 2012, with arrests that have drawn international condemnation.

Li said on separate occasions this month and in April, Hua and one of the other activists, Li Zhao, had attempted to meet him in Hong Kong but were turned away because they were "suspected of criminal activity."

Deng said her husband had been a labour activist for more than a decade.

"So many people don't understand factory workers' plight," Deng said. "No matter our financial struggles, I never questioned the importance of my husband's work."

yan/lth/klm

COACH

SUPERPOWERS
Trump has 'weakened' the West, hurt EU interests: German FM
Berlin (AFP) May 29, 2017
Germany unleashed a volley of criticism Monday against US President Donald Trump, slamming his "short-sighted" policies that have "weakened the West" and hurt European interests. The sharp words from Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel came after Trump concluded his first official tour abroad which took him to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Brussels and then Italy for a G7 summit. They followed Chanc ... read more

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SUPERPOWERS
Russia nears deal to sell air-defence system to Turkey

Lockheed Martin Wins $46 Million for Infrared Missile Warning Satellite

US successfully tests ICBM defense system

Elbit supplying unidentified customer with missile defense system

SUPERPOWERS
Lockheed awarded contract for extended range air-to-surface missiles

Raytheon contracted for testing of joint standoff weapon

Lockheed Martin drops out of over-the-horizon missile competition

Iran says it has built third underground missile factory

SUPERPOWERS
Australia buys AeroVironment Wasp AE for new small UAV program

Drone vs. truck deliveries: Which create less carbon pollution?

UAS Update with NSR Analyst Prateep Basu

SkyGuardian drone tops 48 hours in air

SUPERPOWERS
Airbus further extends channel partner program for military satellite communications in Asia

Radio communications have surprising influence on Earth's near-space environment

Navy receiving data terminal sets from Leonardo DRS

European country orders Harris tactical radios

SUPERPOWERS
European country orders Elbit ground intel systems

Boeing awarded $1B contract for Redesigned Kill Vehicle

Orbital ATK supplying Army with .50-caliber ammunition

Oshkosh secures Marine Corps P-19R contract

SUPERPOWERS
India approves new defence policy to boost local companies

BAE receives contract for Royal Australian Navy SATCOM upgrades

Trump military budget proposal aims to increase readiness

Raytheon in partnership with Saudi company

SUPERPOWERS
EU, China grab spotlight in climate fight after US quits Paris deal

US backsliding on Paris deal a gift for China

John McCain visits 'Big Bad John' US destroyer in Vietnam

France, Germany 'certain' Trump would honour NATO pledges

SUPERPOWERS
Ultrafast nanophotonics: Turmoil in sluggish electrons' existence

Stanford scientists use nanotechnology to boost the performance of key industrial catalyst

Researchers create first significant examples of optical crystallography for nanomaterials

Molecular Lego for nanoelectronics









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.