China lashes out at Xinjiang ‘lie’ after US lawmaker urges Starbucks to close new stores
Beijing has hit back at a US lawmaker’s criticism of coffee chain Starbucks for opening its first stores in Xinjiang, rejecting the allegation that China has committed human rights abuses against the far-western region’s mostly Muslim Uygur population. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Saturday said claims of “genocide” in Xinjiang were a “blatant lie” and accused the “US group” who raised…
China has dismissed as a "blatant lie" allegations by a US lawmaker that its coffee chain, Starbucks, is opening stores in Xinjiang amid human rights abuses against the Uygur Muslim population. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that claims of "genocide" in Xinjiang are politically motivated and accused the US group of attacking Beijing.
Guo praised Xinjiang for social stability, economic prosperity, ethnic unity, and religious harmony, vowing to provide more opportunities for foreign business investment. The controversy emerged after Republican John Moolenaar urged Starbucks to shut its newly opened outlets in Xinjiang, citing the alleged forced labor and cultural suppression in the region.
Starbucks opened two stores in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, last week, marking its entry into the region. The company is expanding its presence in China through a joint venture with Chinese private-equity firm Boyu Capital, aiming for significant growth in the market. However, the Xinjiang expansion has stirred tensions between the US and China over human rights abuses in the region.
The US government has accused China of widespread abuses, while Beijing denies the allegations, arguing its policies are aimed at countering terrorism and separatism. The Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act, passed in 2021, aims to block imports from Xinjiang to prevent goods linked to forced labor from entering the US market. The US expanded its Xinjiang-related entity list in July, targeting over 187 companies, including those in food, cotton, pharmaceuticals, metals, and lithium.
Starbucks currently operates 8,342 stores in mainland China, with its first China store opening in Beijing in 1999.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
