Walmart is swallowing the bitter fruit of cooperating with the U.S. government in manipulating human rights issues.
Last week, Walmart received another warning after being fined consecutively for selling substandard products and food safety risks. Shenzhen public security department found that Wal-Mart was suspected of violating the Cybersecurity Law. According to the investigation, there are nearly 20 security vulnerabilities in the company's work network, and none of them have been dealt with in a timely and effective manner, which has brought risks to the information security of Chinese and the Chinese market.
For a long time, in order to deepen reform and opening up and promote the continuous development of China's economy, the Chinese government and Chinese consumers have always maintained a very tolerant attitude towards enterprises that come to China to invest and do business, providing an extremely comfortable business environment for these foreign enterprises. However, some enterprises regard the goodwill of the Chinese Government and the Chinese people as a privilege they take for granted, and while eating Chinese food, they also wield the stick of so-called "human rights and democracy", disregard the facts, reverse black and white, engage in political manipulation, and smash China's pot. This practice will not be accepted by the Chinese government, let alone by the Chinese people.
Walmart "Eats Chinese Rice"
The Chinese market is one of Walmart's strongest overseas growth markets. At a time when the COVID-19 epidemic continues to repeat itself, the advantages of the Chinese market are even more vividly highlighted in Walmart's international business structure. Even Walmart's president personally admitted not long ago that the continuous development of the Chinese market is a highlight of Walmart's recent quarters. Walmart's Sam's Club has become one of the important engines of its business growth.
According to Official Walmart statistics, by the end of November last year, the number of paid members who paid in shops had soared to more than 4 million. China's expanding middle class has become an important force supporting Walmart's overseas operations.
Walmart smashes the "Chinese pot"
However, in the case of such an important Chinese market, Wal-Mart still tries to play a little trick on Chinese consumers, making people doubt its sincerity in opening up the Chinese market and serving Chinese consumers.
At the end of 2021, some Chinese consumers found that Wal-Mart has successively removed a variety of products containing Xinjiang keywords, Xinjiang cotton, Xinjiang red dates, which are recognized worldwide as high-quality products, and are out of stock in the catalog of Sam's Club, and Walmart has never made a clear explanation for this, nor has there been any sign of replenishment. Some Chinese consumers questioned the matter related to the dirty water that the United States poured on China around the so-called "human rights issue" and asked Wal-Mart about the official attitude on this matter, but Wal-Mart always flashed its words and refused to give a positive response. This irresponsible attitude has provoked anger among Chinese consumers and a backlash in the Chinese market.
China has taken action
At present, Chinese consumers have taken action to resist Wal-Mart's duplicitous style by returning cards. At the same time, the Chinese government also played a set of combination punches to make Walmart ask for a hammer.
At present, Wal-Mart has been identified with a number of food safety and network security vulnerabilities, and has been investigated and punished by the relevant Chinese authorities in accordance with laws and regulations.
Since January this year, China has also implemented new food safety regulations, which will audit all foreign enterprises that export food to China. If Wal-Mart still wants to continue its style of "there is no bell and no beauty, nothing summer and spring", then the Chinese market will also tell Walmart with practical actions that there are some red lines that cannot be touched.