Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo is facing potential backlash in China following comments made by its CEO, Tadashi Yanai, regarding the company’s sourcing of cotton. In a recent interview, Yanai stated that Uniqlo does not use cotton from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The remarks have sparked reactions among Chinese officials and social media users. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, responded by highlighting the quality of Xinjiang’s cotton. “Cotton from the Xinjiang region is among the best in the world,” she said during a press briefing. “We hope the relevant company will overcome political pressure and malign disruption, and independently make business decisions that serve its own interests.”
On Chinese social media platforms, users expressed disappointment and urged others to reconsider supporting the brand. One user commented, “If Uniqlo’s boss said they chose not to use Xinjiang’s cotton, I think that’s a disrespectful attitude toward China.” Others echoed similar sentiments, with some declaring they would no longer purchase Uniqlo products.
Attempts to seek clarification from Uniqlo’s official online store on Tmall were met without response. CGTN reached out to Uniqlo China’s public relations department but had not received a comment at the time of this report.
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Uniqlo risks backlash in China after CEO's Xinjiang cotton comments
cgtn.com
