On New Year’s Eve, Tesla announced its opening of a showroom in Xinjiang, a region in China. The announcement and decision received international criticism from human rights activists on the basis that foreign firms should not be interacting with the Chinese regime since it is committing genocide. Multiple advocacy groups and leaders, including President Joe Biden, made it clear to Tesla that the private sector should fight against the human rights abuses in China rather than exploit financial or manufacturing opportunities. It is essential that internationally recognized companies like Tesla do not become ignorant of the genocide in China and that they take steps to be critical of the genocide rather than diplomatic towards the regime. 

According to Reuters, the White House said it would not directly comment on Tesla’s actions, but that, in general, companies should oppose genocide in Xinjiang. President Biden increased pressure to distance the United States from companies doing business in Xinjiang and signed a bill barring imports of goods made in the Xinjiang region. Furthermore, spokesperson Jen ​​Psaki said that countries should not look the other way concerning the genocide in China and should continue to hold the Chinese government responsible. Although public condemnation continued with the Council on American-Islamic Relations accusing Tesla of “supporting genocide,” Tesla still plans to operate in China, along with other foreign companies. 

Historically, the private sector has profited from genocide. During the Holocaust, many corporations collaborated with the Nazis. Currently, companies like Tesla have capitalized on the financial benefit of opening in China despite the genocide against the Uyghurs that is currently ongoing. An economic opportunity should not come before human rights, but with foreign companies like Tesla exploiting the human rights crisis in China, more companies might be inclined to take advantage of the Xinjiang region. Prominent companies like Tesla have an obligation to society to operate ethically. The international outrage against Tesla’s showroom in Xinjiang should not be silenced until Tesla, and other foreign companies profiting off human rights abuses, take responsibility for and end their operations in China.

Persecution against the Uyghurs by the Chinese government has been ongoing since 2014. The United States labeled the human rights abuses as genocide last year. However, despite international outrage, world leaders have not taken proper steps to end the genocide and the human rights abuses have continued. Foreign companies like Tesla have noted the lack of action condemning the genocide and have taken advantage of the economic opportunity of operating out of China. It is essential that foreign leaders do more than publicly condemn the genocide; purposeful action should be taken in order to preserve human rights for the Uyghurs. 

Tesla’s announcement of opening a showroom in the Xinjiang region of China was met with opposition from human rights groups. Because of the ongoing genocide by the Chinese government against the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, countries like the United States have barred imports from Xinjiang. International groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations have accused Tesla of supporting the genocide because of their operations in China. International leaders should continue to ban imports from Tesla in order to make it clear that there are no economic benefits to supporting genocide. / theowp