豪、アシックス製五輪ユニホーム発表　「新疆綿」騒動の渦中に

【シドニーＡＦＰ＝時事】オーストラリアは31日、東京五輪で代表選手が着用する公式ユニホームを発表した。しかし、スポーツ用品大手アシックス製だったことから、中国・新疆ウイグル自治区での強制労働をめぐる世界的な騒動に巻き込まれた。（写真は豪シドニーで行われた東京五輪で代表選手が着用する公式ユニホームの発表会）
　アシックスが新疆での強制労働による生産が疑われる「新疆綿」をめぐる問題に直面していることから、オーストラリアオリンピック委員会（ＡＯＣ）にも批判が及んだ。
　ＡＯＣのイアン・チェスターマン副委員長は、「豪選手団のユニホームに、その地域（新疆）産の綿が一切使われていないと保証された」と述べた。
　アパレル大手各社は最近、強制労働による生産が懸念される「新疆綿」の調達をやめると発表した。
　しかし、アシックスは当初、中国という巨大市場を失うことを恐れ、「新疆綿を購入して支え続ける」と中国のソーシャルメディアでコメントしていた。
　アシックスの広報は３１日、当初のコメントは本社が許可したものではなく、会社としての立場を示すものではないとＡＦＰに語った。「人権を尊重し、環境基準を満たせるよう、取引先と緊密に連携できるよう全力を尽くす」
　共産党機関紙・人民日報系の環球時報は３０日、アシックスが当初のコメントを撤回したことで、中国で不買運動の対象に加わり「壊滅的損失」を被っていると報じた。
　人権団体ヒューマン・ライツ・ウオッチ（ＨＲＷ）豪支部代表のエレイン・ピアソン氏はＡＦＰに対し、「新疆から綿を調達している企業製のユニホームを着たいという選手は、オーストラリアにいないだろう」と述べた。
　中国産の綿は、世界の生産量の約２０％を占めているが、その９０％は新疆産とみられている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/04/01-11:55）

Australian Olympians became embroiled in the global row over Chinese forced-labour cotton Wednesday as the country revealed its uniforms for the upcoming Tokyo Games.
The Australian Olympic committee faced criticism as it rolled out ASICS-branded sportswear, with the company facing questions over its use of cotton from the Xinjiang region.
We've been assured that none of the cotton for the Australian Olympic team comes from that region, said Ian Chesterman, Australian Olympic Committee vice president.
I think athletes at the moment need to focus on what their job is, which is to get out there and compete for Australia, he said during a press conference.
At least one million Uyghurs and people from other mostly Muslim groups are believed to have been held in camps in Xinjiang, in China's northwest.
Human rights groups, independent media and foreign governments have found evidence that the local authorities have carried out mass detention, forced labour, political indoctrination, torture and forcible sterilisation.
The United States has described the situation as genocide and banned all cotton from Xinjiang. Australia's parliament is considering a similar move.
Several major fashion brands recently announced they would no longer use cotton from Xinjiang -- for fear it has been produced by forced labour.
But ASICS was one of several firms -- hoping to safeguard access to China's vast marketplace -- that initially responded to the allegations by vowing to continue to purchase and support Xinjiang cotton.
- 'Disgusting and shameful' -
Nathan Ruser, a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, was among the critics describing Australia's use of ASICS sportswear as disgusting and shameful.
An ASICS spokesperson told AFP Wednesday that the initial company statement on Chinese social media was unauthorised and did not represent our official corporate position on this matter.
We are fully committed to working closely with business partners to ensure human rights are respected and environmental standards are met at all times, the spokesperson said.
The Chinese government has denied carrying out rights abuses but companies that have voiced concerns have been punished.
Swedish fashion retailer H&M disappeared from Chinese shopping apps and been targeted for boycott.
Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times on Tuesday said ASICS had become the latest target of a boycott by Chinese customers and was facing catastrophic losses after backtracking on its initial statement.
China is one of the world's largest suppliers of cotton, making up around one-fifth of the global total.
Almost 90 percent of China's cotton comes is believed to come from Xinjiang.
I don't think any Australian athlete wants to wear a uniform produced by a company that is sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, Elaine Pearson, Australia director for Human Rights Watch, told AFP.
This is a test case for companies like ASICS about how committed they are to upholding human rights principles, she said.
They should do their due diligence and be transparent in reporting about their supply chain.
The Chinese government is showing its true colours by pressuring companies to be complicit in abuses rather than working to end violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, Pearson added.