The coffee giant has opened its first cafés there, expanding its China footprint while stepping into one of the country’s most politically sensitive markets.
The new stores mark Starbucks’ latest push beyond China’s major coastal cities and into less-served regional markets.
Xinjiang has drawn international criticism over allegations of widespread human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups. Beijing rejects those accusations and says its policies are aimed at combating extremism and promoting economic development.
The company’s arrival may bring jobs, consumer access and commercial investment, but it also places Starbucks under pressure to explain how it assesses labor and supply-chain risks in the region.
Starbucks has operated in China for more than two decades and views the country as a key growth market, despite slowing economic growth and intense competition from domestic brands.
The openings are likely to test how multinational companies balance expansion in China with growing demands from governments, investors and consumers for stronger human rights due diligence.