BEIJING (Reuters) – Concern about Nike Inc erupted on Chinese social media on Wednesday night after Chinese netizens saw a statement by the sporting goods giant saying it was “concerned” about reports of forced labor in Xinjiang and that does not use cotton from the region.
The topics surrounding Nike’s statement were among the biggest trends in Chinese social media Weibo on Thursday, and the social media reaction had wider repercussions.
Popular Chinese actor Wang Yibo terminated his contract as a Nike representative in response to social media criticism of the company’s Xinjiang statement, his agency at Weibo said on Thursday.
It was not clear when Nike released the statement, which had no date. Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We are concerned about reports of forced labor in and connected to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR),” Nike said in the statement.
“Nike does not purchase products from XUAR and we confirm with our contracted suppliers that they are not using textiles or spun yarns from the region.”
The consequences of social media occur at a time when relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years.
In the most recent development, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese authorities on Monday for alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. China retaliated with sanctions against European legislators and institutions.
Earlier this week, at least one Chinese online retailer appeared to be abandoning H&M products amid social media attacks on the Swedish company for saying it was “deeply concerned” about reports of forced labor in Xinjiang.
Activists and some Western politicians accuse China of using torture, forced labor and sterilizations in Xinjiang. China has denied these allegations and said it is offering vocational training and that its measures are necessary to combat extremism.
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the state-owned Global Times newspaper, urged Western companies on Wednesday to be “highly cautious” and not to “suppress Xinjiang from China” in a social media post.
Doing so “would undoubtedly arouse the anger of the Chinese public,” he added. He did not single out any company.
Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa