BEIJING (Reuters) – Anger with Nike Inc. erupted on Chinese social media on Wednesday after Chinese netizens saw a statement from the sporting goods giant saying it was “concerned” about reports of forced labor in Xinjiang and not uses cotton from China. region.
Issues related to Nike’s statement on Thursday were among the highest trends on Chinese social media, Weibo, similar to Twitter, and the reaction on social media had a wider impact.
Popular Chinese actor Wang Yibo terminated his contract as a Nike representative in response to criticism on social media about the company’s Xinjiang statement, his agency told Weibo on Thursday.
It was unclear when Nike released the statement, which had no date. Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We are concerned about reports of forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and connected to them,” Nike said in the statement.
“Nike does not source XUAR products and we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they do not use fabrics or yarns from the region.”
The consequences of social media are due to the fact that relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years.
Recently, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. China retaliated with sanctions on European legislators and institutions.
Earlier this week, at least one Chinese online retailer appeared to launch H&M products amid attacks on social enterprises at the Swedish company to say it was “deeply concerned” by reports of forced labor in Xinjiang.
Activists and some Western politicians accuse China of using torture, forced labor and sterilization in Xinjiang. China has denied these claims and claims that it offers vocational training and that its measures are needed to combat extremism.
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the state-run Global Times, on Wednesday urged Western companies to be “very cautious” and not “suppress Xinjiang from China” in a social media post.
Doing so “would certainly arouse the anger of the Chinese public,” he added. He did not highlight any company.
Ryan Woo Reports; Edition by Ana Nicolaci da Costa