Capvision raids compound concern in China over consulting clampdown
- Authorities question staff over alleged leak of sensitive security information, according to state media
- EU ambassador to China says the crackdown is ‘not good news’ for foreign businesses in the country
US research firm Capvision is the latest multinational consultancy to be raided by Chinese authorities as Beijing ramps up its security apparatus against potential espionage threats in its rivalry with Washington.
National security and market regulation authorities questioned staff and inspected items found at Capvision Partners (Shanghai)’s offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou and Shenzhen, Jiangsu Television reported on Monday.
In a separate report on Monday, state broadcaster CCTV said the firm was accused of helping to leak information about the Chinese military technology industry to foreigners.
Soon after the CCTV programme was aired, the company said in a WeChat post that “national interests come first” and it would implement the “vision of development under national security”, a policy promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping that says China’s economic development must have regard for national security.
Capvision’s Hong Kong office declined to comment on Tuesday.
According to its 2022 IPO prospectus, Capvision offers to connect clients with an expert for a fee, and then pays experts for their service without knowing the content of the calls.