News of the raid and detentions comes as Sino-US relations have spiralled downwards following months of diplomatic tensions, including over the US military downing in February of a suspected Chinese spy balloon and a planned US transit next week by the President of Taiwan, an island which Beijing regards as a renegade province to be reunified, by force if necessary.
"We can confirm that Chinese authorities have detained the five staff in Mintz Group's Beijing office, all of them Chinese nationals, and have closed our operations there," the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters late on Thursday.
The company said it was ready to work with the Chinese authorities to "resolve any misunderstanding that may have led to these events", and that its top concern was the safety and well-being of colleagues in China.
"Mintz Group has not received any official legal notice regarding a case against the company and has requested that the authorities release its employees," the company said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Friday she was not aware of this case.
The Beijing public security bureau did not respond to a request for comment.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin March 25, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin March 25, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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