China labour activists suspected of sending 'industrial secrets' abroad

BEIJING (Reuters) - Three labour activists in China who scrutinized a company making Ivanka Trump-branded shoes are being investigated on suspicion of providing industrial secrets to a foreign organisation for money, state media reported on Wednesday.

China on Tuesday rejected a call from the U.S. State Department for the release of the activists saying they were being investigated on suspicion of interfering with a company's "normal operation and production activities" and the illegal use of "professional surveillance equipment".