Volkswagen built a factory in China’s Xinijang, where up to 1 million Uighurs have been detained. Its CEO says he’s 'not aware' of that.
By Rick Noack Rick Noack Foreign affairs reporter focusing on Europe and international security Email Bio Follow April 17 at 8:50 AM BERLIN — As a company rooted in Nazi Germany, German car manufacturer Volkswagen might be expected to have a somewhat more sensitive approach to ethics than its competitors.
China has conducted a sweeping campaign to suppress Uighur identity in the region of Xinjiang in recent years, which has also included putting further restrictions on the practice of Islam. As many as 1 million Uighurs, besides members of other minority groups, are believed to be held without charges in internment camps. The camps have marked an escalation in tensions that have existed for decades between the staunchly secular Chinese government and Uighurs.
“For the whole Volkswagen Group, respecting human rights is one of the fundamental basic principles for all business relationships,” a statement read. His most recent China-related remarks to the BBC are likely to be cited by human rights groups as an extreme example of a Western corporation’s willingness to look the other way when it comes to alleged Chinese human rights abuses.
“We hire our employees based on merit, regardless of their gender, age, religious beliefs and ethnicity. Everyone has the same chance to apply for a job. No one is excluded. Our Xin Jiang plant applies the same principle,” the company said in a statement.
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