
Starbucks is facing mounting political pressure in the U.S. to close its newly opened stores in China’s Xinjiang region over concerns about the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority. The company opened two cafes in Urumqi, the regional capital, on Tuesday: one at the Grand Bazaar and another at the international airport.
John Moolenaar, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, condemned the move as “shocking and morally bankrupt” in a statement. He urged Starbucks to “immediately change course and close its Xinjiang locations,” arguing that every cup sold there ties the American brand to the Chinese Communist Party’s alleged abuses against Uyghurs. Human rights groups have long accused Beijing of suppressing the predominantly Muslim ethnic group, a claim China denies.
The criticism follows a pattern of Western companies facing scrutiny over operations in Xinjiang. Volkswagen previously drew criticism for its factory in the region, which it sold in late 2024, while brands like H&M and Adidas faced boycott calls in China in 2021 after raising concerns about potential forced labor in Xinjiang.
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