US issues warning over doing business in China’s Xinjiang province
The US has issued a warning to companies doing business in China’s Xinjiang province.
The Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory said that businesses and firms who still have supply chains and investment ties in the Chinese region ‘could run a high risk of violating US law.’
Washington cited evidence of genocide and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang. China has always denied allegations that the region’s Uyghur population has been subjected to human rights abuses.
Western governments have begun to harden their stance over companies operating in China.
On Friday, the Biden administration added 14 Chinese firms to its economic blacklist.
Earlier this month, French Authorities opened a ‘crimes against humanity probe’ into fashion brands Uniqlo, Inditex, SMCP, and Sketchers. Uniqlo, Inditex, and SMCP deny the claims, whilst Sketchers have refused to comment.
This follows complaints led by the European Uyghur Institute that the retailers were profiting from forced labour.
The Uyghur population have allegedly been subject to torture, forced labour, and sexual abuse as they have been detained at camps. China have dismissed these claims, saying these camps are re-education facilities aimed to lift Uyghurs out of poverty.