Many of the country’s Muslim Uyghurs live here, and there have been reports of forced labor and possibly genocide. In December, China forcibly relocated hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs to cotton fields in Xinjiang. Also read, Google Search Launches new COVID-19 tools Intel stated on WeChat and Weibo that its decision to avoid supply chains in Xinjiang was a sign of compliance with US law rather than a statement of opinion. Intel issued an apology to its customers, partners, and the general public in China. Furthermore, Intel has committed to becoming a trusted technology partner in China. According to the company, Obama signed a bill requiring businesses to verify that commodities imported from China’s Xinjiang region were not produced using forced labor.

Last week, Congress passed legislation to prohibit US corporations from profiting from forced labor, which China denies. Many Weibo users criticized Intel’s apology as a ploy to protect Chinese sales. “Errors are mistakes!” “Rescind your Xinjiang statement!” On Thursday, the hashtag “Is Intel’s apology sincere?” trended on Weibo. Karry Wang, a singer, announced his resignation as an Intel brand ambassador, citing “national interests.” Intel is far from the first company to be chastised for attempting to comply with Xinjiang sanctions while operating in China.  

Intel Apologies for Xinjiang Avoidance Request - 24Intel Apologies for Xinjiang Avoidance Request - 94