Pence Slams NBA, Nike Over China Stance
October 24 2019 - 2:12PM
Dow Jones News
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)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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