Intel erases references to China’s Xinjiang after backlash

Intel Corp. removed references to the Xinjiang region of China from an open letter it sent suppliers last month that sparked a social-media backlash in China, according to a new report.

Last month, Intel published a letter to its global suppliers on its website that called on its partners to avoid sourcing from the region of Xinjiang. The Chinese Communist Party has been criticized for its campaign of forced re-education against the minority Uyghur Muslims that call the region home.

“Our investors and customers have inquired whether Intel purchases goods or services from the Xinjiang region of China. Multiple governments have imposed restrictions on products sourced from the Xinjiang region. Therefore, Intel is required to ensure our supply chain does not use any labor or source goods or services from the Xinjiang region,” read the letter as initially published.

Chinese netizens quickly denounced Intel for cutting business dealings in the country. One of its China brand ambassadors pulled out in protest.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip maker issued an apology across its social media accounts on Dec. 23, saying it was meant to comply with U.S. law and did not reflect the position of the company itself on Xinjiang.

The Wall Street Journal checked the webpage and letter on Monday and found that all references to Xinjiang had been removed.

Intel said on Monday it had “recently issued a statement in China to address concerns raised by our stakeholders there regarding how we communicated certain legal requirements and policies with our global supplier network.” It added it would continue to ensure compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.