Tesco. Photo: AFP

The Chinese company that supplied Christmas cards for the US supermarket Tesco on Monday blasted what it called unfounded accusations of using forced labor in making the cards and called such claims politically motivated.

"We only became aware of this when some foreign media contacted us. We have never done such a thing," Zhejiang Yunguang Printing told the Global Times, "Why did they include our company's name? Do they have any evidence that we have been working with any prison?"

Tesco suspended production at Zhejiang Yunguang after it was reported that a Christmas card made by the Chinese company and sold in the UK contained a message that alleged Zhejiang Yunguang had used foreign prisoners to make the cards, according to the Guardian newspaper.

Zhejiang Yunguang said on Monday that Tesco had not reached out to them even though media reports said that the company had shut down productions. "We have never had any connection with any prison," the company said, adding that if the foreign media outlets have no evidence for their claims, it could take legal action. UK's Sunday Times first reported on the Christmas card that allegedly contained the message.

Zhejiang Yunguang Printing. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

The company further noted that there are suspicions around the allegations and that they may be a politically motivated narrative to smear China's human rights record. "Are they trying to stir up a political thing? Are they trying to challenge our country's human rights?" the company said, adding that some people behind the scene may have "manufactured" the incident.

Global Times 
Newspaper headline: Tesco's Chinese supplier blasts accusations of forced labor