The parent company of China-based online marketplace Temu, Pinduoduo (PDD), is led by a number of former Chinese Communist Party officials. This has raised serious national security risks, according to experts. Temu, a competitor to Amazon, has made aggressive inroads into the US market. Its parent company, the Shanghai-based Pinduoduo, is listed on the Nasdaq and has a current market capitalization of almost $200 billion.
Among the company’s top leaders are Xu Mintao, a director of public relations, who was previously a senior official in the State Administration for Market Regulation; and Zhou Qingtian, a public relations executive who is former deputy director of the Regulation Department of the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation. Guo Hua, a director of public affairs, previously served as deputy director of the Trademark Office of the State Intellectual Property Office. Hu Qida and Tong Lei — both former judges of the People’s Court of Shanghai — were named as PDD directors of legal affairs.
This leadership structure has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the company’s operations. As Temu continues to expand its presence in the US, these concerns are likely to be closely monitored by regulators and industry observers.
Read more: nypost.com