Li's case generated huge backlash in China last year, at the time it was perceived as a disgruntled employee being shamelessly persecuted after he demanded to be compensated as per law, had he not record the meeting and later present it as evidence, it was widely believed that he could have been convicted for extortion in this mere labor dispute. Huawei was given the name "Prison .Co" for a series of jailings involving the company's employees and jornalists, NYT then claimed it lost favor in China which was quite an overstatement.

However this report has shone new light on the case, apparently he wasn't arrested for the alledged extortion, but for that sensitive geopolitical incident. Li should feel lucky that this key info wasn't exposed back then, otherwise he would certainly have lost all public support.