Washington [US]March 28 (ANI): The United States has targeted Chinese state-run social media campaigns against US companies and other foreign companies that have promised not to use cotton and other components involving Uighur workers in Xinjiang.
As tensions escalated between the West and China due to sanctions related to Uighurs, Chinese media have demanded Chinese boycotts of the Swedish multinational retailer HM, power clothing for sportswear Nike and Adidas; New balance; Burberry and other members of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) who have expressed concern or promised not to use supply chain components made in Xinjiang, the South China Morning Post reported.
On Friday, the Biden administration condemned China, saying the United States was anxious to ensure that U.S. companies complied with U.S. law and workers’ concerns and “did not in any way support forced labor.”
“We commend ourselves and stand with companies that comply with US laws and ensure that products we consume are not manufactured through forced labor,” State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said.
In a separate review on Friday, White House Press Minister Jen Psaki announced Beijing’s strategic use of its state-run economy. “In our view, the international community should oppose China’s arms formation of private companies’ dependence on their markets to stifle freedom of expression and impede ethical business practices,” she said.
The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom joined the European Union (EU) on Monday to take what they described as “concerted action” against China to send “a clear message on human rights abuses in Xinjiang”.
The sanctions blacklisted former and current officials in the Xinjiang region – Zhu Hailun, Wang Junzheng, Wang Mingshan and Chen Mingguo – for alleged abuses, which has sparked international outrage.
The coordinated action was also aimed at the state-run Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The sanctions agreed on Monday mark the EU’s first sanctions against Beijing since imposing an arms embargo following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
In retaliation for the bloc’s sanctions, China has decided to impose sanctions on ten EU officials and four European organizations after accusing them of spreading lies and false information about the Xinjiang region.
On Friday, China imposed sanctions on nine British nationals and four entities in response to London’s sanctions against Beijing for human rights abuses in Xinjiang province.
The battle has seen a flood of activity in diplomatic circles, with China and European countries calling each other’s ambassadors to account for the move and responding to it, according to the South China Morning Post. (ANI)