Letter to Robert Chapek, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and Robert Iger, Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company - Oversight Republicans probe Disney's decision to film Mulan in China where CCP detains Uyghurs in concentration camps

Letter

Dear Mr. Chapek and Mr. Iger:

On September 4, 2020, the Walt Disney Company (Disney) released a new, live-action remake of the film Mulan. Part of the new movie was filmed in China, specifically the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), where "Uighur Muslims have been detained in mass internment camps." Despite universally-recognized abuses occurring in Xinjiang, the film credits offered special thanks to over a dozen Chinese institutions that assisted with filming, including four Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda departments in the XUAR. These credits include the Turpan Municipal Bureau of Public Security, a CCP-run agency actively facilitating and orchestrating human rights abuses and the genocide of the Uyghur people. Last October, the Trump Administration put the Bureau "on a blacklist forbidding U.S. companies to sell or supply products to them."

The CCP is systematically working to exterminate the presence of Uyghur culture and religion by incarcerating over a million people. Recently uncovered evidence shows the CCP is also conducting mass forced sterilizations of women, forced abortions, and utilizing mandatory invasive birth control measures to reduce family size among the Uyghur people. Utilization of CCP agencies perpetrating this genocide, such as the Turpan Municipal Bureau of Public Security, implicitly supports such crimes. Disney's decision to film Mulan in Xinjiang and use CCP-run entities is inapposite and counters the company's commitment to "provid[e] comfort, inspiration, and opportunity to children and families around the world."

Perhaps more surprising than Disney's decision to film Mulan in Xinjiang is its recent contemplation to put a moratorium on all filming in the state of Georgia. Disney appears to have taken a firm stand against the lives and rights of the unborn in favor of the right of the CCP to commit genocide against the Uyghurs and force sterilizations on Uyghur women. Disney's eagerness to partner with CCP groups engaged in such atrocities while taking jobs out of the state of Georgia is disturbing.

As a Republic founded on the self-evident truth that people are endowed with certain inalienable rights, our country stands with those around the world who face religious persecution. The United States condemns violations of religious freedom and promotes religious freedom around the world. It is incumbent upon one of America's most admired companies to do the same.

Given Disney's public thanks of the CCP-run entities in its Mulan credits, we request a staff-level briefing by September 21, 2020 to address its decision to film in Xinjiang. The briefing should also answer the following questions:

1. Does the Walt Disney Company agree the treatment of Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang constitutes genocide?
2. Does the Walt Disney Company condone the treatment of Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang?
3. Prior to filming parts of Mulan in China did the Walt Disney Company discuss other possible filming locations for that part of the movie?
4. Did anyone in the Walt Disney Company express concern over filming in Xinjiang?
5. Who made the final decision to proceed with filming in Xinjiang?
6. Did the Walt Disney Company sign any contracts or agreements with any of the CCP-run agencies listed in the Mulan credits?
7. What, if anything, did the CCP-run agencies listed in the Mulan credits provide the Walt Disney Company in exchange for receiving special thanks in the film credits?
8. Did the CCP assert or ask for any editorial or content control in exchange for filming parts of Mulan in China?
9. Does the Walt Disney Company support the recently passed "Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region"?

In addition, please be prepared to explain the disparity between threatening a boycott of Georgia over pro-life laws while continuing to film in China where Uyghur women are being sterilized.

This briefing may be conducted remotely for convenience and safety issues. To schedule the briefing, please contact Committee staff at (202) 225-5074.

The Committee on Oversight and Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate "any matter" at "any time" under House Rule X. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this inquiry.