Beijing (Agencies): China has released five employees of the US-based consultancy firm Mintz Group, two years after their detention as part of a crackdown on foreign-linked consulting firms. The release comes as tensions over foreign espionage have fueled investigations into international businesses operating in China.
The employees, all Chinese nationals, were detained in March 2023 following a raid on Mintz Group’s Beijing office by China’s public security bureau. Their detentions coincided with a broader wave of scrutiny involving firms like Bain & Company and Capvision Partners. During this time, authorities intensified efforts to regulate consultancy operations amid suspicions of espionage.
“We are grateful to the Chinese authorities that our former colleagues can now be home with their families,” said Mintz Group in a statement. The company noted its operations in mainland China and Hong Kong were shut down in 2023, after being fined $1.5 million for conducting what authorities described as “unapproved statistical work.”
The release coincides with a high-profile business forum in Beijing attended by global executives, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Pfizer’s Albert Bourla. Chinese authorities have remained silent on both the initial detentions and the recent release.
Mintz Group was reportedly involved in examining forced labor links in supply chains associated with China’s Xinjiang region, according to Reuters. This revelation further highlights the challenges faced by foreign firms navigating sensitive issues while operating within China’s regulatory framework.