Row erupts over Intel’s Xinjiang supplier statement
BEIJING: Intel apologised on Thursday for asking suppliers to avoid sourcing goods from Xinjiang after the world’s biggest chipmaker joined other foreign brands that face the fury of state media over complaints of abuses by the ruling Communist Party in the mostly Muslim region.
Intel’s request was “arrogant and vicious”, said Global Times, a newspaper published by the ruling party. The reference to Xinjiang in a letter to suppliers was aimed at complying with US regulations, Intel said on its social media account. Washington
has barred imports of goods from Xinjiang over complaints of mass detentions, forced abortions and forced labour.
“So-called forced labour and other allegations on Xinjiang are completely lies concocted by anti-China forces,” said foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian. He called on Intel to “respect facts and tell right from wrong”.
Netizens also expressed anger at Intel’s letter. On China’s Twitter-like Weibo microblog service, singer Karry Wang said he would no longer serve as brand ambassador for Intel, adding in a statement that “national interests exceed everything”.
Many Weibo users also called on Chinese citizens to boycott Intel, with one posting under the name “Old Catalan” saying, “Must resist, do not buy!”
Intel processor chips are used in smartphones, computers and other products.
The letter caused “concerns among our cherished Chinese partners, which we deeply regret”, said an Intel statement.
“We apologise for the trouble caused to our respected Chinese customers, partners and the public,” the company said.
The Chinese government rejects complaints of abuses in Xinjiang, but companies say they are unable to carry out independent audits of factories and other workplaces.
China begins quest to ‘clean up’ internet
China will scrutinise online platforms such as social media networks and video-sharing sites to clamp down on fake accounts and information as part of its drive to “clean up” the internet, the country’s cyber regulator said on Thursday.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it would launch a two-month special operation to target deceptive online behaviours, ranging from boosting engagement figures to paying for fake fans and reviews.
Chinese province offers loans for having babies Jilin in northeast China is offering married couples bank loans of up to 200,000 yuan ($31,400) if they have kids, joining other provinces in the roll-out of financial incentives to overcome a declining population.
Certain small businesses set up by couples with two or three children will also enjoy exemptions and cuts in value-added taxes, the Jilin government said in a statement on Thursday.
China’s demographic issues are particularly prominent in the rustbelt provinces. Their population fell 10.3% in 2020 compared with 2010. Jilin slumped 12.7%.