BEIJING (Reuters) – Burberry has lost a Chinese brand ambassador and its distinctive tartan design was removed from a popular video game, becoming the first luxury brand to be attacked by China’s reaction to Western accusations of abuses in Xinjiang.
China on Friday sanctioned organizations and individuals in the UK for what it called “lies and misinformation” about Xinjiang, days after Britain imposed sanctions for alleged human rights abuses in the western region of China.
Burberry is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, a group that promotes sustainable cotton production, which said in October that it was suspending approval of cotton from Xinjiang, citing human rights concerns.
Award-winning Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu terminated her contract with Burberry as the brand’s ambassador, as Burberry has not “clearly and publicly stated its stance on Xinjiang cotton,” its agency said Thursday.
The company’s iconic picture design also withdrew from the clothing worn by Tencent Holdings Ltd’s “Honor of Kings” video game characters, according to a post on the game’s official Weibo account, which won praise from Chinese netizens.
Burberry China did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. According to its website, Burberry cotton comes from the United States, Australia, Turkey, India and Egypt.
The reaction, especially on social and traditional media, has also surrounded mass-market brands such as H&M, Adidas AG and Nike Inc., which have previously expressed critical views on working conditions in Xinjiang, China’s largest cotton-producing region.
UN rights activists and experts have accused China of using mass arrests, torture, forced labor and sterilizations against Uighurs in Xinjiang. China denies these claims and says its actions in the region are necessary to counter extremism.
In a letter to British lawmakers in November, Burberry said he had no operations in Xinjiang or worked with any suppliers established there, adding that he did not consent to any form of modern slavery among his suppliers, including forced prison work. linked or involuntary. .
China’s National Textiles and Clothing Council, in a statement, urged international brands on Friday to stop “misbehavior,” including the exclusion of Xinjiang cotton from the supply chain, out of respect for Chinese customers.
Hong Kong lawmaker Regina Ip said she would stop buying Burberry.
“Burberry is one of my favorite brands. But I will stop buying Burberry products. I am in my country boycotting companies that spread lies about Xinjiang, ”Ip wrote on his Twitter account.
Report by Ryan Woo and writing by Beijing; Edited by Edwina Gibbs