U.S. House Select Committee on China (HSCC) blasted Starbucks for opening two cafés in Urumqi on September 6, 2024, calling the move "morally bankrupt" and urging the company to shut them.
Chairman John Moolenaar linked the stores to the Chinese Communist Party's "brutal campaign" against Uyghurs, citing the detention of more than a million Muslim minorities.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun countered, calling the committee’s accusations "blatant lies" and accusing the U.S. panel of fabricating claims for political purposes.
Guo added that Xinjiang enjoys "social stability, economic prosperity, ethnic unity and religious harmony" and that Beijing would keep expanding high‑standard opening‑up to attract foreign investment.
Starbucks said it would continue investing in Xinjiang, noting its joint venture holds a 60% stake from Boyu Capital and operates about 8,000 outlets nationwide.
The U.S. allegation of genocide, backed by a 2022 UN assessment and rights groups, has strained Beijing‑Washington ties, but China has pledged to maintain its development strategy in the region.