Beijing: Intel Corp apologizes for asking suppliers to avoid sourcing goods xinjiang The world’s largest chipmaker joins other foreign brands to face the fury of state media over complaints of abuse by the ruling Communist Party in a mostly Muslim region.
The Global Times, a newspaper published by the ruling party, said Intel’s request was “arrogant and vicious”.
Intel said on its social media account that the reference to Xinjiang in a letter to suppliers was to comply with US regulations. Washington has banned the import of goods from Xinjiang over complaints of mass detention, forced abortion and forced labor, which Beijing denies.
Tensions are rising over Xinjiang as activists have called for a boycott of February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, a prestige project for the ruling party. The White House says the United States will not send the dignitaries. Beijing on Wednesday banned four members of the US government’s religious freedom panel from China in retaliation for Washington’s sanctions on the two Xinjiang leaders.
“The so-called bonded labor and other allegations against Xinjiang are completely fabricated by anti-China forces,” a foreign ministry spokesman said. zhao lijian, He called on Intel to ‘respect the facts and tell right and wrong’.
Some online commentators, where the ruling party does not want comments removed by censors, have called for boycotts of Intel products.
Intel processor chips are used in smartphones, computers, and other products.
An Intel statement said the letter caused concern among our beloved Chinese partners, which we deeply regret.
“We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our respected Chinese customers, partners and the public,” the company said.
Other companies, including retailer H&M and shoe brand Nike, have been called for criticism and boycotts after expressing concerns about Xinjiang or saying they would stop using materials produced there.
The Chinese government dismisses complaints of abuse in Xinjiang, but the companies say they are unable to conduct independent audits of factories and other workplaces.
pop singer wang junkai, also known as curry wangannounced Wednesday that it is pulling out of a deal to act as a “brand ambassador” for Intel’s Core line of processor chips.
Wang’s move is a ‘fresh warning siren for Intel and other foreign companies that seek to undermine China’s core interests, while also trying to profit from the vast Chinese market,’ said the Global Times, which is known for its nationalist Known for vocals.
Other singers, actors and other celebrities have severed ties with foreign brands that were targeted for criticism of Xinjiang, giving their careers millions of dollars in income to save their careers from official retaliation.
Xinjiang is a leading supplier of silica used in making computer chips. Intel has a chip factory in Dalian, northeast of China – its only one in Asia and one of four outside the United States. The company also has a research facility in Beijing.
Criticism by state media may prompt consumers to look for products based on chips from other suppliers. But there are some options. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. of the United States for chips in desktop PCs and servers. and UK Arm Ltd. for smartphones.
The Communist Party has spent billions of dollars to build the Chinese chip industry and reduce dependence on the United States, Taiwan and other suppliers. But its manufacturers are far from achieving the level of accuracy required for the most advanced chips from Intel and other global suppliers.
Intel, headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., reported profits of $23.7 billion in 2020 on sales of $77.9 billion.
Smartphones and other products are designed to work with the characteristics of a specific chip from a supplier. Switching would require a design overhaul and testing.
Trying to switch to alternative suppliers will be especially difficult and costly when a global shortage of chips due to the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting production of products from smartphones to cars.
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