China Criticizes Nike and Burberry, Raising Concerns from US and UK Leaders

Attention to Chinese Consumers' Boycott Against Western Companies
White House Expresses Concern
Biden Invites Xi Jinping to April Climate Change Summit

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] As China launched an overt boycott campaign against Western companies that declared the suspension of raw material use related to the Xinjiang region, the leaders of the United States and the United Kingdom expressed concern.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office stated on the 26th (local time) in a press release that the leaders of both countries reviewed the sanctions imposed earlier this week regarding human rights violations in the Xinjiang region and expressed concern over China's retaliatory measures.

This boycott campaign intensified after the United States, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Canada, and others simultaneously imposed sanctions against China on the 22nd, citing human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.

Companies such as H&M, Nike, and Burberry, which declared they would not use cotton produced in the Xinjiang region, have become the primary targets of intense attacks from Chinese consumers.

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also said during a briefing that when asked about reports of China pressuring companies that pledged not to use products made with forced labor, "We are closely monitoring that."

Psaki criticized China for profiting from human rights abuses, stating, "The international community must oppose China weaponizing private companies' dependence on its domestic market to suppress freedom of expression and undermine ethical business practices."

Deputy State Department spokesperson Jalina Porter also indirectly criticized China, saying, "We support companies that comply with U.S. laws and ensure that the products we consume are not made with forced labor."

She added, "We support and promote companies respecting human rights in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises."

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce have officially endorsed the boycott campaign, and state-run media have joined in, rapidly spreading damage to the companies operating in China. China has also retaliated with sanctions banning entry and transactions not only on the Chinese mainland but also in Hong Kong and Macau against institutions and individuals from the EU, the UK, and others.

Biden Invites Xi Jinping and Putin to April Climate Change Summit

Amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, attention is focused on whether a meeting between the two leaders will take place. U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to the climate summit to be held virtually on April 22-23, the White House announced on the same day. Former President Moon Jae-in was also included on the invitation list.

President Biden has recently taken an aggressive stance, calling President Xi "lacking the backbone of democracy" and referring to President Putin as a "killer" in media interviews.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.