Key facts
- US Representative John Moolenaar demanded Starbucks close its new stores in China's Xinjiang region.
- Moolenaar called the decision to open stores in Xinjiang "shocking and morally bankrupt."
- He cited the detention of over a million Uyghurs and the stripping of their faith, language, and culture.
- Starbucks opened its first two stores in Urumqi, Xinjiang, this week.
- Starbucks China CEO Liu Wenjuan said the company would continue investing in Xinjiang.
A U.S. congressman has called on Starbucks to close its newly opened stores in China's Xinjiang region, citing human rights concerns. Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, described the decision to do business in the region as "shocking and morally bankrupt," referencing the alleged detention of over a million Uyghurs and the suppression of their culture.