Huawei Faces Online Storm in China Over Employee Treatment
December 5, 2019 | ReutersEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Huawei Technologies is facing a public backlash in China after details of the dismissal and wrongful detention of a former employee went viral.
The treatment of Li Hongyuan, who had worked for the company for 13 years, has become one of the most discussed topics in recent days on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform.
The telecoms group that rode a wave of patriotic support last year when it was put on a trade blacklist by the United States is under growing pressure to make an apology.
"Huawei has lost love this time round," Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of influential Chinese state tabloid Global Times, posted on Weibo.
Li's case surfaced publicly at the end of November when court documents detailing his case were posted on Chinese social media platforms. State media outlets later reported how he was detained by police on an extortion charge for 251 days last year after asking the company for a severance payment when he was laid off.
He was later acquitted by authorities and received 100,000 yuan ($14,206.77) in state compensation.
The hashtag “former Huawei employee who was detained hopes Huawei will apologize” was viewed over 230 million times on Weibo in the subsequent days.
Huawei said it supported Li’s rights to seek a resolution through legal means, but its response has failed to quell public criticism of the firm and the topic was still trending on Tuesday.
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
April Issue of I-Connect007 Magazine: Beyond the Rulebook
04/14/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn this month’s I-Connect007 Magazine, we asked PCB designers, fabricators, and suppliers what it really means to operate without a rulebook. Their perspectives vary, especially between seasoned designers and experienced fabricators, but a common thread emerges: progress depends on pushing boundaries and finding a way forward, even when the path isn’t clear. In many ways, this mindset has always been part of what we do, whether we’ve called it that or not.
Standard of Excellence: Engineering Is the New Sales—How Technical Collaboration Wins Business
04/15/2026 | Anaya Vardya -- Column: Standard of ExcellenceWhen it comes to complex, high-performance electronics, the line between sales and engineering has all but disappeared. Customers want more than a quote. They’re not simply buying boards; they’re buying understanding, so engineering is now the front line of customer trust, problem-solving, and long-term success. There was a time when sales meant persuasion, and engineering meant production. Today, the two are inseparable.
New EIPC President: Building Strength Through Unity in Europe’s Electronics Industry
04/14/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Industry veteran Rico Schluter, newly appointed president of EIPC, discusses his decades-long journey through the European PCB industry and his vision for its future. From building advanced manufacturing operations to leading large-scale facility development in Lithuania, Rico shares insights into automation, workforce evolution, and the challenges of scaling production. He emphasizes the urgent need for stronger collaboration across European industry organizations to effectively influence policy in Brussels, particularly around supply chain resilience, trade regulations, and energy-related incentives.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The 'NVIDIA Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant’
04/09/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfI just finished "The NVIDIA Way" by Tae Kim, and let me tell you, this isn’t just a book about a semiconductor company. It’s a book about conviction, stubborn vision, and, most of all, what happens when a leader refuses to think small. At the center of it all is Jensen Huang. Kim does a masterful job showing us that NVIDIA’s rise wasn’t luck, timing, or some Silicon Valley fairy dust. It was discipline and obsession. It was long-term thinking in a world addicted to quarterly results.
From Panels to Post-its
04/07/2026 | Lorena Villanueva, Global Electronics Association MexicoLast January, I attended the Global Leadership Summit of the Wire Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA) in Las Vegas, and there was a subtle shift in one of the events that everyone could feel. We still had the traditional conference rhythm: strong keynote, well-prepared panels, and smart people in the room. There were also, sometimes, some careful answers—useful, but not always candid. So, I was curious when WHMA introduced a new peer-to-peer format for one session.