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BackCan’t Uygurs drink Starbucks and taste American freedom?

Can’t Uygurs drink Starbucks and taste American freedom?

NEWS

SCMP Economy3 hours agoOpinion1 min readChina

Can’t Uygurs drink Starbucks and taste American freedom?

Quick Look

US Congressman John Moolenaar criticized Starbucks for opening two stores in Urumqi, Xinjiang, calling the move morally bankrupt amid allegations of genocide against Uyghurs by the Chinese Communist Party.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The article discusses allegations by human rights groups and some Western governments that China is committing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, including forced labor and cultural suppression.

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As I see it

Can’t Uygurs drink Starbucks and taste American freedom?

US Congressman says it’s OK for America to sell massive bombs to Israel but not coffee in Xinjiang

3 -MIN READ3 -MIN

Alex Lo has been an SCMP columnist since 2012, commenting on China and international affairs.

Published: 5:30am, 7 Oct 2026

“Morally bankrupt”? Was Michigan Republican John Moolenaar talking about himself? Last week, the chairman of the House Select Committee on China demanded that Starbucks “immediately reverse course and close its stores”.

The coffee chain’s crime? It opened two stores in Urumqi – the capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region – in the city centre’s Grand Bazaar and its international airport. The way Moolenaar talked about it, you would think Starbucks was committing genocide and crimes against humanity, or at least being complicit in them.

A committee press release said: “This week, Starbucks opened stores in Xinjiang, the Chinese region where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is committing genocide against Uygurs and other minorities.”

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Starbucks will face increasing pressure to close its stores in Xinjiang
Likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

What specific evidence does Starbucks have that its operations are not linked to forced labor?
Will other multinational companies face similar scrutiny for operating in Xinjiang?
How will the Chinese government respond to US congressional criticism of foreign businesses in Xinjiang?

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This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.