China slams US panel’s ‘genocide’ claim after Starbucks opens first Xinjiang stores

China has condemned a US congressional panel for accusing Starbucks of opening its first stores in Xinjiang, a region where Washington has accused Beijing of committing genocide against the Uyghur minority. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated that the US House Select Committee on China was "fabricating claims out of thin air for political purposes" and had no credibility in commenting on the situation. Guo emphasized that the alleged "genocide" in Xinjiang is "a blatant lie."

Chairman John Moolenaar of the committee called the decision to open Starbucks outlets in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, "morally bankrupt" and urged the company to close them. Moolenaar described the move as supporting the Chinese Communist Party's "brutal campaign" against Uyghurs, asserting that there is no justification for an American company to conduct business in a region where more than a million Uyghurs have been detained and stripped of their faith, language, and culture.

Chinese officials maintain that Xinjiang's policies are aimed at combating terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism, and that the region enjoys "social stability, economic prosperity, ethnic unity, and religious harmony." China will continue to welcome foreign investment and expand its opening-up policies. Starbucks has confirmed its intention to continue investing in Xinjiang, with its CEO stating that the company will maintain its operations in the region.