BEIJING (Reuters) – Anger over Nike Inc erupted on Chinese social media late Wednesday after Chinese netizens noticed a statement from the sporting goods giant saying it was ‘concerned’ about reports of forced labor in Xinjiang and that it was not extracting cotton the region.
Topics surrounding the Nike statement were among the highest trending on the Twitter-like social media Weibo in China on Thursday, and the social media backlash had a greater impact.
Popular Chinese actor Wang Yibo terminated his contract as a Nike representative in response to social media criticism over the company’s Xinjiang statement, his agency said on Weibo on Thursday.
It was unclear when Nike released the statement, which did not include a date. Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We are concerned about reports of forced labor in and connected with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR),” Nike said in the statement.
“Nike does not purchase products from XUAR and we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they do not use textiles or spun yarn from the region.”
The consequences of social media are because relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years.
In the latest development, the United States, European Union, Great Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials 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 dropping H & M’s products amid social media attacks on the Swedish company, saying it was “very concerned” about reports of forced labor in Xinjiang.
Activists and some Western politicians have accused China of using torture, forced labor and sterilization in Xinjiang. China has denied these claims, saying it offers vocational training and that its measures are needed to combat extremism.
Hu Xijin, editor of the state-run Global Times, urged Western companies on Wednesday to be “very careful” and not to “suppress China’s Xinjiang” in a social media post.
That would “undoubtedly provoke the ire of the Chinese public,” he added. He did not select companies.
Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa