British Lawmaker Criticizes Shein Amidst Debunked Forced Labor Claims

A prominent lawmaker in the UK is trying to amplify claims about purported forced labor practices in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, specifically in connection with the Chinese e-commerce giant Shein. This lawmaker, Liam Byrne, who leads the influential cross-party Business and Trade Committee, is advocating for a British equivalent to the U.S. "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" from 2021. However, analysts criticize these efforts as politically charged and indicative of a broader tendency within the UK to politicize human rights matters concerning China.

Despite these claims, experts, including Li Guanjie from the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies, argue that the UK's strategy appears to be an attempt to gain global influence by promoting such narratives and encouraging allies like the U.S. to increase pressure on China. They contend that this approach risks alienating China and may ultimately be counterproductive for the UK. The Labour government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is urged not to adopt the previous administration's combative stance towards China, as doing so could jeopardize the UK's national interests.

Looking ahead, analysts express uncertainty about how the new UK government will manage its relationship with China, particularly in light of the current economic difficulties in the UK. They highlight the necessity for the UK to seek cooperation with China to solve domestic issues and recognize significant opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration, especially in fields such as green technology, the digital economy, and efforts to combat climate change.