Staff of American Consultancy Firm interrogated by Chinese police in Shanghai

Shanghai: US consultancy giant Bain & Co has confirmed that Chinese police visited its office in Shanghai and questioned some employees. A spokesman for the firm told the BBC: “We are co-operating as appropriate with the Chinese authorities.” The developments come after relations between Washington and Beijing deteriorated in recent months. Last month, Mintz, another US firm, was raided in Beijing and five local employees were detained.

Bain said, “We can confirm that Chinese authorities have questioned employees in our Shanghai office. At this time, we have no further information.” The company’s statement came after a media report that police made an unannounced visit to Bain’s office in Shanghai two weeks ago. According to the Financial Times, Chinese authorities took away computers and phones. According to the company’s website, Bain’s Shanghai office opened in 2004 in the city’s central business district. It also has offices in Beijing and Hong Kong.

The global firm, which is headquartered in Boston, advises public, private and non-profit organisations, the BBC reported. Tensions have risen in recent months between the world’s two largest economies. In such a situation, American businesses are worried about their prospects in China. “The Chinese government has consistently said it welcomes foreign investment, although recent actions against American enterprises in China have sent the opposite message,” Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told the BBC. “Our business community is scared, and our members are asking, ‘Who’s next?’ Whatever the intention of the government, this is the message being received.