A US lawmaker is urging the Seattle based coffee chain to withdraw from its newest operational foothold in China. The demand for the outlets' closure follows the company's entry into the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where rights groups and activists like China Select allege the Chinese government is committing genocide against Uyghurs and other minorities. Critics argue that operating in the area allows the company's brand to be used to whitewash the campaign against those populations.

Starbucks opened two stores in Urumqi on Sept. 29 as part of its broader expansion into the Chinese market. This debut in the region includes a flagship location at the Grand Bazaar featuring design elements such as Atlas silk and ethnic instruments, and a specialized menu offering local flavors like milk-skin salty milk tea.