On 30 May 2017, the Associated Press reported that Hua Haifeng, an investigator for China Labor Watch, had been arrested on a charge of illegal surveillance. His two colleagues Li Zhao and Su Heng were feared to have also been detained. They were working undercover at Huajian Group factories to investigate labour rights concerns.

Huajian Group supplies footwear to a number of western brands. The company denies the labour rights allegations.