After its controversial letter to suppliers sparked a public and political backlash in the country, including calls for a boycott, the major US chipmaker Intel apologized in China on Thursday.
In its annual letter to suppliers, dated December, Intel recently informed that following restrictions imposed by multiple governments, the company has been required to make sure its supply chain does not use any labor or source goods or services from the Xinjiang region, an autonomous territory in northwest China.
Although Beijing rejects complaints of abuses in Xinjiang, companies repeatedly complain that they are unable to carry out independent audits of factories and other workplaces.
The letter, published in several languages on Intel’s website, triggered widespread criticism in China from state and social media over the Xinjiang stipulation which stems from the human rights abuses allegations in the region and restrictions imposed by multiple governments.
Global Times, the newspaper published by the ruling party Chinese Communist Party, branded Intel’s request as arrogant and vicious.
Following the latest calls for a boycott of the company – which has 10,000 employees in China – have forced Intel to address Chinese users via its official WeChat and Weibo accounts, stressing its effort to avoid supply chains from Xinjiang does not reflect Intel’s position on the issue but was an expression of compliance with US state regulations.
The company underscored its commitment to become a trusted tech partner and accelerating joint development with China and apologized to its Chinese customers, partners, and the public for the trouble it has caused them.
Intel, whose presence in China includes assembly and test sites in Shanghai and Chengdu, is the latest multinational to come under fire as it aims to comply with Xinjiang-related sanctions while continuing to operate in one of the biggest markets and supply bases.
Retailer H&M and shoe brand Nike have also been targeted by criticism and calls for boycotts after expressing its concern about Xinjiang or saying they’d stop using materials produced there.
Be the first to comment