US Lawmaker Criticises Starbucks over Xinjiang Operations

A prominent US legislator has publicly challenged Starbucks' continued presence in Xinjiang, arguing that the company's operations in the region contradict its stated commitment to corporate responsibility. The congressman pointed to documented concerns regarding the treatment of Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group in northwestern China, as grounds for reconsidering the company's footprint there.

In a statement released Thursday, the lawmaker characterised Starbucks' decision to maintain operations in Xinjiang as contradictory to the company's public positioning on social responsibility. He argued that Starbucks should not conduct business in an area where the United States government has accused Chinese authorities of systematic human rights violations.

The criticism reflects broader tensions between Western corporations and US lawmakers over business operations in regions subject to human rights concerns. The Xinjiang issue has become increasingly contentious in US-China relations, with Washington raising repeated allegations of widespread abuses in the region.

Starbucks has not yet responded to the lawmaker's remarks. The company operates multiple outlets across China and has maintained its expansion strategy in the country despite periodic controversies over labour practices and supply chain issues in various markets.