«We appeal to President Trump, Ivanka Trump herself, and to her related brand company to … press for the release our activists, » China Labor Watch said.
SHANGHAI — Two activists are missing and another has been arrested in China after conducting an investigation into a local company making Ivanka Trump-branded shoes, a New York-based advocacy group said Wednesday.
Hua Haifeng was detained in Jiangxi province on suspicion of illegally using eavesdropping equipment, according to Li Qiang, executive director of China Labor Watch.
Li said the three men had been investigating conditions at factories that produce shoes for President Donald Trump’s daughter, as well as other Western brands.
The men were working with the nonprofit to publish a report next month alleging low pay and excessive overtime, according to the Associated Press.
«We appeal to President Trump, Ivanka Trump herself, and to her related brand company to advocate and press for the release our activists, » China Labor Watch said.
White House spokeswoman Hope Hicks referred questions to Ivanka Trump’s brand. The Ivanka Trump brand declined to comment to the Associated Press.
Abigail Klem, who took over day-to-day management when the first daughter became a White House presidential adviser, has said the brand requires licensees and their manufacturers to «comply with all applicable laws and to maintain acceptable working conditions.»
Responding to a question about the trio, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: «We have no information about this. We haven’t heard about this. We don’t know where you got your information about this.»
The reported arrest and disappearances come at a time of sustained pressure on labor activists in China amid a crackdown on civil society under President Xi Jinping.
