NKE Nike Inc

By William Mauldin 

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday criticized the National Basketball Association and Nike Inc. over their position toward China during the divisive protests in Hong Kong.

"In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime," Mr. Pence said in a speech about China at the Wilson Center, a Washington think tank.

Pence spoke in response to reactions by sports figures and sporting-goods brands toward the pro-democracy protests that have engulfed Hong Kong and led to a crackdown from Beijing.

Representatives for Nike and the NBA didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James criticized Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey for the tweet that set off a crisis between the NBA and China, saying that Mr. Morey's support for antigovernment protesters in Hong Kong was "misinformed or not really educated on the situation."

The NBA never apologized for the incident, however, and resisted pressure to punish Mr. Morey.

Mr. James has a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike, and China is the biggest source of growth for shoe companies.

"Nike promotes itself as a so-called social-justice champion, but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door," Mr. Pence said.

Nike has stayed largely quiet on the Hong Kong protesters. Earlier this year, stores in China halted sales of Nike sneakers made by a Japanese collaborator after the designer provoked an outcry on Chinese social media by posting a photo in support of Hong Kong protesters.

Mr. Pence called China a strategic and economic rival in the speech, criticized Beijing's treatment of Muslim minorities in his strongest terms yet and praised President Trump for confronting Beijing over trade and other issues.

Mr. Trump has recently touted a trade framework with China that if formalized in coming weeks would halt new tariffs and boost purchases of American agricultural products.

Write to William Mauldin at william.mauldin@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 24, 2019 13:57 ET (17:57 GMT)

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