"I will resist any brand that speaks ill of our mother country."
A few words which summarize China's position vis-à-vis the brands which have decided to boycott cotton from the province of Xinjiang, against the backdrop of allegations of “forced labor” by Uyghurs.
Xinjiang, located in northwest China, has long been hit by attacks targeting civilians attributed to separatists or Uyghur Islamists.
Beijing has imposed drastic police surveillance there for several years.
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According to studies published by American and Australian institutes, at least one million Uyghurs have been interned in "camps" and some subjected to "forced labor", especially in the region's cotton fields.
Several ready-to-wear companies, including H&M, Nike and Adidas have committed to boycott cotton from Xinjiang.
But since the imposition on Monday by, among others, the European Union of sanctions against China for its treatment of Uyghurs, these brands have suffered the wrath of the country.
“This very aggressive strategy is not in the service of the interests of the country, on the contrary.
», Analyzes Valérie Niquet, head of the Asia division at the Foundation for Strategic Research.
“She is serving the interests of the ruling Communist Party, because it looks very powerful and unmistakable.
"
