US lawmaker calls on Starbucks to close new stores in China's Xinjiang in light of Uyghur repression
China denies widespread accusations about abuses of the Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim people.
US Congressman John Moolenaar has demanded that Starbucks cease operations in China's Xinjiang region, deeming it a "morally bankrupt decision" to engage in business in a location where Uyghurs are subjected to repression. The congressman made this demand following the recent opening of Starbucks' first two stores in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, one at the city center's main market and another at the international airport.
Moolenaar criticized Starbucks for its social responsibility stance, stating that there is no justification for an American company to engage in business in a region where over a million Uyghurs have been detained by China's Communist Party. These detainees have had their faith, language, and culture stripped away. Neither Starbucks nor China's Foreign Ministry responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Xinjiang is currently in the midst of its week-long national day holiday. Starbucks had described its new stores in Xinjiang as a "new experience" that merges local culture with customer needs, promising ongoing investment in the region. Their China CEO Liu Wenjuan confirmed this in a WeChat post, showing the company's logo in both English and Chinese, with no visible Uyghur-language signage. Uyghur is written in an Arabic-based script, and it is meant to enjoy equal status in Xinjiang.
In April 2026, Starbucks finalized its joint venture in China, bringing in strategic investor Boyu Capital as a 60% stakeholder. The joint venture operates approximately 8,000 outlets across China.
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