China probes U.S. group over ‘boycott’ of Xinjiang cotton

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

China said that it is investigating U.S. fashion group PVH Corp., which owns brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, for “unreasonably boycotting” cotton from its Xinjiang region, where Beijing is accused of widespread rights violations.
China has accused the company of violating trade principles without a factual basis.

Background:

Many countries including U.S. has implemented boycotts and restrictions on products from Xinjiang due to concerns over human rights abuses, particularly related to the treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the region.
In 2021, US enacted the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which prohibits imports from Xinjiang unless exporters can prove their products are not made with forced labour.

Accusations against China:

Detention Camps: The Chinese government has been accused of detaining over a million Uyghurs and other minorities in what it describes as “re-education” centres, aimed at combating extremism.
Surveillance: Xinjiang is heavily monitored, with extensive use of surveillance technologies.
Forced Labour: There are widespread allegations of forced labour in industries linked to Xinjiang, raising concerns about products entering global supply chains without ethical sourcing.
Cultural Suppression: The Chinese government has implemented policies that restrict religious practices and promote assimilation.

China’s reaction:

China rejects the allegations, saying its policies in Xinjiang have rooted out terrorism and extremism while promoting development.

About Xinjiang:

Xinjiang is an autonomous region in northwest China, home to various ethnic groups, including the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim population.
It is officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
It shares borders with eight countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to the northwest, Pakistan and India to the southwest, Mongolia to the northeast, Russia to the north, and Afghanistan to the west.
The region is rich in minerals, oil and natural gas.

Who are Uyghurs?

The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group, primarily living in Xinjiang.
The Uyghurs are considered to be one of the55 officially recognized ethnic minority communities in China.
Historically, the Uyghurs have inhabited the region for centuries. However, China recognises the community only as a regional minority and rejects that they are an indigenous group.