Chinese glass tycoon denounces New York Times story

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Chinese billionaire Cao Dewang on Tuesday said the New York Times story on June 10 about the "culture clash" at Fuyao Glass America failed to tell the truth about Fuyao in an interview with the Global Times.

The New York Times reported that Fuyao faces "an acrimonious union campaign by the United Automobile Workers" and a lawsuit by a former manager who says he was "let go" partly because he is not Chinese.

"About 40 percent of the story is untrue," Cao noted. "They could not straighten up their content sources when approached by our PR department."

Cao Dewang walks to attend the third plenary meeting of the 12th CPC Central Committee on March 3, 2015, in Beijing. /VCG Photo

The controversies swirl around the operation of Moraine auto glass plant outside Dayton, Ohio, in which Fuyao has invested one billion dollars in set up over the past three years and now has over 2,000 workers. The plant is reported to be the largest auto glass production site in the world.

Cao commented on the ongoing lawsuit between Fuyao and ousted vice president Dave Burrows, calling the suit "legally meritless".

"Even if we lose, it is a labor dispute and our insurance company will pay," Cao said, adding that overseas investments often encounter this sort of situation.

That suit, in which Burrows alleged he was improperly fired based in national origin, was recently moved to the US District Court.

Cao said that he was surprised that some Chinese media used fake headlines, such as "Employees of Fuyao US plant take to the street," to lure readers, and he hopes to see serious reports and analysis, rather than exaggerated and fabricated words.

Cao expressed he has no objection against the US workers union, which in part reflects the culture.

"I have 20 years of experience investing in the US, and my company actually has good relations with the union."

He added that his company has talked with the local officials in Ohio and the state government supports him in letting people know the truth.

Cao even questioned the New York Times' purpose of publishing the story on June 10, just days before an investment summit in the US.