London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

China denies forced labour claims after prisoner’s message is found in Tesco supermarket Christmas card

Spokesman for foreign ministry in Beijing insists story was ‘made up’ by Peter Humphrey, a Briton who spent 23 months in Chinese prisons. British media reported that a six-year-old girl had found a message pleading for help in Christmas card from the retail giant

China denied allegations that foreign prisoners were being used as forced labour after media reports that a British girl had found a plea for help in a Christmas card.

The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that a six-year-old girl in London had found a message in a Christmas card bought from a Tesco supermarket apparently written by a prisoner who said they were forced to work against their will.

But China’s foreign ministry insisted the report had been “made up” by Peter Humphrey, a former journalist who was imprisoned in China six years ago.

“I have read the reports by British media, all made up by Mr Peter Humphrey,” Geng Shuang, the foreign ministry spokesman, said on Monday.



“I can tell you responsibly that, after seeking clarification from relevant departments, there is no situation at all of forced labour by foreign prisoners in Shanghai Qingpu Prison,” Geng said.

He accused Humphrey of making up the reports to “hype himself up” and said that “the farce he made up is really out of date”.

“I can give a piece of advice to him, if he hopes to become eye-catching, at least can get some new tricks,” he said.

Humphrey is a former journalist who spent 23 months in Chinese prisons, including Qingpu, on what he said were bogus charges that were probably triggered by his work in China as a corporate fraud investigator.

He said he had contacted fellow ex-prisoners after the girl’s family got in touch with him.

Tesco said at the weekend that it was shocked by the report and it would not tolerate prison labour in its supply chain. The company said it had immediately halted production at a Chinese factory that produced the cards.

“We are foreign prisoners in Shanghai Qingpu prison China. Forced to work against our will,” the message in the Christmas card read.

“Please help us and notify human rights organisation. Use the link to contact Mr Peter Humphrey.”

Qingpu prison – which has both domestic and international prisoners – says on its website that holding foreign inmates from 40 nationalities “offers a lawful platform for cultural exchange”.

The website shows several modern buildings, one with a glass facade, behind a green lawn and a blue sky and says it offers inmates “lessons on general law, morals, culture, skills and other basic education”.

China has faced growing criticism in the West over its human rights record in recent months – particularly over Xinjiang.

US think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said in a report in October that forced labour was increasingly becoming integral to Beijing’s efforts to “re-educate” Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

Government officials in China maintain that the detention centres are “vocational training centres”. It has accused the West of using double standards in countering terrorism and extremism.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×