BEIJING (Reuters) – Anger at Nike Inc. erupted on Chinese social media late 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 using cotton in the region .
The topics around the Nike statement were among the most important trends on Chinese social networks Weibo, Weibo, on Thursday, and the social reaction had a greater impact.
Chinese folk actor Wang Yibo has terminated his Nike dealership in response to criticism on social media about Xinjiang’s statement, his agency told Weibo on Thursday.
It was not clear when Nike released the statement, which did not have a date on it. Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We are concerned about reports of forced labor in and connected to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR),” Nike said in a statement.
“Nike does not supply XUAR products and we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they do not use textiles or yarns from the region.”
The result of social media is taking place while relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years.
In recent developments, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials on Monday for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. China has retaliated with sanctions against European parliamentarians and institutions.
Earlier this week, at least one Chinese online retailer appeared to give up H&M products amid attacks on the Swedish company on social media because it said 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 the allegations and says it is providing training and that measures are needed to combat extremism.
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the state-run Global Times, on Wednesday called on Western companies to be “extremely cautious” and not “suppress China’s Xinjiang” in a social media post.
This would “undoubtedly arouse the anger of the Chinese public,” he added. He did not highlight any company.
Reporting by Ryan Woo; Edited by Ana Nicolaci da Costa