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Image source,fake images
H&M, a well-known Swedish clothing retail brand, was criticized by Chinese netizens for an old statement about Xinjiang Cotton. Public opinion continues to ferment. International sports brands such as Nike and Adidas are involved in disputes. Many Chinese artists announced the termination of cooperation with H&M.
The H&M Group issued a “due diligence” statement on cotton in Xinjiang, China, in March last year, saying it expressed concern about reports of forced labor and religious discrimination among ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The recent announcement has suddenly hit Chinese official media and social media, accusing the brand of spreading rumors and discrediting China. This statement can still be viewed on the BBC in Chinese on the H&M Group’s official English website.
It is no longer possible to search for the H&M name on many large Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Taobao and JD.com.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said at a press conference today that the forced labor allegations in Xinjiang are completely malicious lies concocted by individual anti-China forces. The purpose is to discredit China’s image, undermine Xinjiang’s security and stability, and deter China’s development. . He said that Chinese netizens have the right to express their feelings. “This is definitely not nationalism, but pure patriotism.”
It’s unclear why an earlier statement will elicit a huge response at this point. But it is worth noting that earlier this week, the European Union sanctioned four Chinese officials and the Public Security Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps over the human rights issue of Xinjiang Uyghurs. China responded immediately, announcing sanctions on 10 individuals and entities in the EU, saying that the EU sanctions were “based on lies and false information.”
Chinese netizens criticized
Since March 24, posts about H&M and Xinjiang Cotton have continued to rise on Chinese social media.
“The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League” was the first wholesale mail to criticize H & M’s Weibo. He wrote: “By spreading rumors to boycott Xinjiang cotton, by trying to make money in China? The post had more than 410,000 likes, more than 40,000 people posted and 16,000 commented.
In another post, the image was adapted from the gilded phrase by Chinese Communist Party Political Bureau member Yang Jiechi at the Alaska talks last week, and changed to “Xinjiang cotton does not eat this game.”
Image source,Weibo
On H&M Group’s official “HM China” Weibo, posts are full of complaints from netizens. One netizen wrote: “Save it, congratulations on not having to buy clothes in this life.” Another said: “A clothing salesman dares to humiliate 1.4 billion Chinese. Isn’t he brave?”
Facing condemnation from Chinese netizens, “HM China” issued a statement on the 24th, saying that the company has always upheld the principles of openness and transparency in managing the global supply chain and ensuring that suppliers from all over the world comply with sustainable development commitments. “It does not represent any political position.”
The statement also said that the H&M Group purchases more sustainable cotton through a certified third party globally. The purpose is to help cotton farmers around the world adopt more sustainable methods of growing cotton. Currently, it cooperates with more than 350 manufacturers in China.
What did the old H&M statement say?
Image source,H&M website
H&M Group specifically mentioned Xinjiang in this statement last year.
The anger of Chinese netizens appears to point to a statement issued by the H&M Group last year.
On March 20 last year, the H&M Group issued a “due diligence” statement on its official English website, stating that the group “is deeply concerned by reports from civil society organizations and the media. , including coercion of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang Uygur. ” Autonomous community. Complaints of employment and religious discrimination “.
The statement also stated that “we strictly prohibit any type of forced labor in the supply chain.” He also noted that “we have not cooperated with any garment factories located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, nor have we sourced products from this region.”
The statement noted in the last paragraph that the cotton purchased by the Xinjiang group always comes from farms certified by the Swiss Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). “Due to the increasing difficulty of conducting credible due diligence in this region (Xinjiang), BCI has decided to suspend the issuance of cotton licenses in Xinjiang. This means that our cotton will no longer be purchased there.”
Xinjiang is the main cotton producing area in China.
Sports brand attitudes
In addition to H&M, some international sports brands have also become targets of Chinese netizens.
The top two international sports consumer brands, Nike and Adidas, have stated that they have not sourced yarn from Xinjiang. Both brands are members of the BCI “Better Cotton Development Association”. Members of the association also include the national brand Anta.
BCI is an international non-profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, that certifies cotton farms according to its sustainable development standards. According to the official introduction, the association is the world’s largest sustainable development plan for cotton, with more than 400 members. In addition to H&M, Uniqlo and Zara are also members.
BCI said Wednesday that it has been aware of recent controversies on the Internet. The actions of the association were carried out with its members. Based on the Xinjiang business environment, it has suspended its certification activities in Xinjiang.
Last year, the US Department of Commerce blacklisted the Xinjiang subsidiary of a Chinese company among BCI members, alleging that the company was involved in activities that violated human rights in Xinjiang. BCI announced in October last year that it would suspend its certification of cotton farms in Xinjiang.
Chinese sports brand Anta Sports stated on its Weibo on the 24th that “We have noticed the statement made by BCI recently and are seriously concerned about this matter. We are initiating relevant procedures to withdraw from the organization.
Anta also stated in a statement that the brand became a member of BCI in 2019. The original intention of the cooperation is to “promote environmental protection and sustainable development issues in the procurement supply chain, so that the Growing and producing cotton in various regions of the world will be more beneficial to cotton growers. Suitable for the planting environment. ”
Anta stated that the company has been purchasing and using cotton produced in China’s cotton producing areas, including Xinjiang cotton, and will continue to purchase and use Chinese cotton in the future.
Investigation Exposes Uighur Forced Labor Behind China’s Cotton Industry
Chinese artists terminate their sponsorships
Related public opinion continues to ferment, and some Chinese artists have ended their patronage with the H&M Group and other BCI members.
On the 24th, actor Huang Xuan announced on Weibo that he would suspend his contract with H&M as a spokesperson, stating that he “resolutely opposes any form of attempt to discredit the country and human rights.”
On March 25, Beijing Lehua Entertainment Culture Communication released a statement on the official Weibo that the company and its artist Wang Yibo terminated all cooperation with the Nike brand, saying that they “ resolutely resist any speech and behavior that contaminates China and the dignity of the country. ” Not to be violated, and resolutely safeguard the interests of the country. ”
