The issue of Xinjiang cotton boycott by western brands is making China more aggressive.
The Chinese Officials have warned companies against ‘politicising economic behaviour’ amidst Western concerns over forced labour in Xinjiang’s cotton industry.
China has also accused the US and other Western countries of engaging in a campaign aimed at destabilising the country and rebuked Sweden’s H&M and other foreign companies who have raised concerns about forced labour in the far-western region of Xinjiang.
Describing the allegations as ‘misconduct’ that goes against ‘international efforts to punish genocide crimes’, Xu Guixiang, a spokesman for the regional government of Xinjiang, rejected allegations that Chinese authorities were committing genocide and other rights abuses against the far western region’s Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims.
He warned Western companies against getting involved in the growing rift, noting the case of H&M, which is facing a Chinese consumer backlash over a 2020 statement in which the Swedish brand said it would no longer source cotton from Xinjiang.
“I don’t think a company should politicise its economic behaviour,” he said. “Can H&M continue to make money in the Chinese market? Not anymore.”
It is also pertinent to mention that Beijing has yet to allow independent observers access to Xinjiang, however. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said the global body was holding ‘serious negotiations’ with China for unfettered access to the region to verify reports of rights abuses.
Landlords have meanwhile closed at least six H&M stores in the lower-tier cities of Urumqi, Yinchuan, Changchun and Lianyungang, according to mall operators in those areas who were contacted by the Bloomberg news agency.
Local media have reported more closures, with pictures showing H&M’s brand billboards being removed.
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