Chinese officials on Monday said Sweden's H&M and other foreign companies should not make rash moves or step into politics after the companies raised concerns about forced labour in Xinjiang, sparking furious online backlash and boycotts.

H&M, Burberry, Nike, Adidas, and other Western brands have been hit by consumer boycotts in China since last week over comments about their sourcing of cotton in Xinjiang. The growing rift comes as the United States and other Western governments increase pressure on China over suspected human-rights abuses in the country's western region.

"I don't think a company should politicise its economic behaviour," said Xu Guixiang, a Xinjiang government spokesperson at a news conference on Monday morning. "Can H&M continue to make money in the Chinese market? Not any more...