Overview
- Starbucks this week opened two cafes in Urumqi, one at the city centre grand bazaar and one at the international airport, and posted photos and promotional text on its official WeChat account.
- John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, publicly demanded that Starbucks immediately close the outlets and called the decision "morally bankrupt."
- Starbucks’ China CEO Liu Wenjuan said the company will continue investing in Xinjiang and described the outlets as a blend of local culture and customer needs in the WeChat post.
- Photos of the new stores show English and Chinese signage but no obvious Uyghur-language signs, a detail that critics say raises concerns about respect for local language and identity.
- The openings follow an April 2026 restructure that made Boyu Capital the 60% owner of Starbucks’ China joint venture, and rights groups and U.S. officials warn the move creates reputational risk because of longstanding allegations of repression in Xinjiang that China denies.