Taiwan Premier Hits Out At 'rights-ignoring' Stars

Taiwan premier Su Tseng-chang has accused some of the island’s artistes of being selfish for expressing support for cotton made in Xinjiang, or cutting ties with companies which have voiced concerns about reports of forced labour in the region.

During a question and answer session in the legislature, Su was asked for his government's stance on the Xinjiang issue.

The premier said several generations of people have worked hard together to achieve democracy in Taiwan, adding that the island is widely recognised around the world for its respect for human rights.

He stressed Taiwan will condemn human rights abuses anywhere in the world.

Su also lashed out at a number of Taiwanese celebrities, who had publicly backed cotton made in Xinjiang, or cancelled endorsement deals with firms that have expressed concern over reports of forced labour there.

He said "some people" had acted solely for their own benefit, ignoring the interests of Taiwan and going against universal values like human rights.

“If anyone violates the law, Taiwan is governed by the rule of law. If the law is not broken, then we should all unite and voice out our support for human rights,” he said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s economic affairs minister, Wang Mei-hua, said Taipei will seek reference from the United Nations before deciding what measures to take regarding the Xinjiang cotton issue.