Advertisement
Intel’s apology for call to boycott Xinjiang criticised in US Senate hearing
- CEO challenged after backtracking on request that partners not use workers or products from Chinese region where Uygurs were allegedly subject to forced labour
- Comments made during hearing about legislation aimed at boosting US’ tech competitiveness, including in semiconductor manufacturing
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
17
Intel Corp came under fire during a Senate hearing from one of Congress’ most vocal China critics on Wednesday over an apology that the company issued after its response to alleged forced labour in the country.
Advertisement
The Senate Commerce Committee hearing – about legislation designed to boost America’s tech competitiveness – revealed strong bipartisan support for efforts under way to combine the Senate’s US Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House of Representatives’ America Competes Act into one bill. However, two Republican senators signalled dissatisfaction.
Both versions – which must be combined into one before Congress can send it to President Joe Biden for his signature – would earmark US$52 billion to support US semiconductor manufacturing and include other measures intended to counter Beijing’s policies on a number of fronts.
Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, accused Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger of failing to say explicitly how much of a return American taxpayers could expect from the funds Intel would receive once the legislation became law.
In one of the hearing’s most contentious moments, Scott also took Gelsinger to task for a statement that Intel issued in December apologising for asking its partners not to use labour or products from China’s far-western Xinjiang region, where about 1 million mainly Uygur Muslims are alleged to have been held in mass detention camps, with some subjected to forced labour.
Advertisement
Advertisement