59 minutes ago
4
China, meanwhile, has rejected widespread accusations of abuses against Uyghurs.
Starbucks is facing criticism in the United States after opening its first two outlets in China's Xinjiang region, with a US lawmaker urging the company to shut them down over alleged repression of Uyghurs.John Moolenaar, chairman of the House of Representatives' Select Committee on China, said Starbucks should "immediately reverse course and close its stores" in the region.The two outlets opened this week in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi. One is located at the city's Grand Bazaar, while the other is at the international airport.Moolenaar described Starbucks' decision to operate in Xinjiang as a "morally bankrupt decision", arguing that the company should not be doing business in a region where the US has accused Chinese authorities of widespread abuses against Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic group."This is a shocking and morally bankrupt decision by a company that prides itself on social responsibility," he said in a statement published on Thursday."There is no justifiable reason for an American company to do business in a region where the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has detained more than a million Uyghurs and is stripping them of their faith, language, and culture."China rejects widespread accusations of abuses against Uyghurs.
Beijing says its policies in Xinjiang are intended to tackle terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.Starbucks and China's Foreign Ministry had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. China is currently observing a week-long national holiday.Starbucks has instead presented its arrival in Xinjiang as part of its wider strategy in China. In a post on the company's official WeChat account, Starbucks said the new outlets represented more than the opening of coffee shops and were intended to offer an experience combining local culture with the needs of customers.Liu Wenjuan, Starbucks' chief executive in China, said the company would continue investing in Xinjiang.Images shared by Starbucks showed the company's branding in both English and Chinese. However, there were no obvious signs using the Uyghur language, which uses an Arabic-based script and is officially recognised alongside Chinese in Xinjiang.The controversy comes as Starbucks expands its business in China through a new ownership structure. In April 2026, the company completed a joint venture with Boyu Capital, which became the strategic investor with a 60% stake. The joint venture operates around 8,000 Starbucks outlets across China.
