US decries Chinese ‘state-led’ social media campaign against companies cutting Xinjiang ties
- Biden administration appears keen to stiffen the resolve of companies that say they will stop working with Xinjiang suppliers because of forced-labour charges
- Chinese media has called for boycotts of Swedish retailer H&M, sports apparel powerhouses Nike and Adidas; New Balance; Burberry and other brands
The Biden administration criticised on Friday what it called a Chinese “state-led” social media campaign against US companies and other foreign businesses that have pledged not to use cotton and other components involving Uygur workers in Xinjiang.
With concern mounting globally over alleged forced labour and other human rights abuses in China’s far western region of Xinjiang, the European Union on Monday announced sanctions against four Xinjiang officials and one entity; the US, Britain and Canada quickly followed in what seemed to be a coordinated move.
Beijing quickly countered with its own sanctions against 10 EU lawmakers, scholars, human rights activists and scholars and four organizations for “maliciously spreading lies and false information”. Beijing followed up on Friday with sanctions aimed at Britain involving nine individuals and four entities.
Chinese media has called for Chinese boycotts of Swedish multinational retailer H&M, sports apparel powerhouses Nike and Adidas; New Balance; Burberry and other members of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) that have voiced concerns or pledged not to use supply chain components produced in Xinjiang.
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Global brands face backlash in China for rejecting Xinjiang cotton
On Friday, the Biden administration appeared keen to stiffen corporate resolve. “We commend and stand with companies that adhere to US laws and ensure that products we are consuming are not made with forced labour,” State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said.