Shanghai (AFP)

The NBA and Apple were Wednesday the target of sharp criticism of China, which canceled an event of the American Basketball League after a polemical tweet and accused the firm to the apple of "complicity" with the "rioters" Hong Kong .

A fan meeting on the eve of an exhibition match in Shanghai's NBA was canceled on Wednesday.

A statement from the Shanghai City Sports Authority, citing "inappropriate comments made by the general manager of the Houston Rockets (Daryl) Morey team" and those of NBA boss Adam Silver to justify the cancellation.

The exhibition match scheduled Thursday between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers is so far maintained.

The crisis began late last week when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey posted this message on Twitter: "Fight for Freedom, Support Hong Kong."

The tweet provoked the fury of hundreds of millions of Chinese basketball fans, the number one sport in the country, accusing Mr. Morey of interfering in a matter of sovereignty and encouraging violence in Hong Kong.

- "Whiplash to the rioters"

Tuesday, the NBA, through the voice of his boss Adam Silver, said she would not apologize for this tweet and continue to support "freedom of expression."

Adam Silver is expected Wednesday in China, where he must meet with Chinese officials.

"The flip-flop of Mr Silver, which will certainly give a boost to the rioters in Hong Kong, shows that his organization is willing to be a new tool of US interference" in the autonomous territory, says in an editorial the official China Daily.

The public TV CCTV and the internet giant Tencent had already suspended the broadcast of the exhibition match scheduled for Thursday in Shanghai and another Saturday in Shenzhen (south).

On Wednesday, employees of the Mercedes-Benz Hall in Shanghai, where the match is scheduled for Thursday, were seen removing logos from the NBA, Nets and Lakers as well as sponsors.

The NBA, which has forged lucrative partnerships in China, suddenly and without explanation canceled a press conference to be held Wednesday in Shanghai.

- "Support our country" -

In Beijing, Wednesday, a team of amateur players was disappointed by the tweet of Daryl Morey and the response of the NBA.

"I do not think I can continue to watch the NBA games," Fu Hao, 26, told AFP, adding that "as a Chinese, we have to support our country."

Since the beginning of the Hong Kong demonstrations in June, China has been accusing foreign countries and leaders of pouring oil on the fire with statements supporting the protesters.

On Wednesday, the US giant Apple was also in the People's Daily viewfinder for allowing Hong Kong an application that allows the public to locate the police on a map.

Called HKMap.live, it is portrayed by the newspaper as supporting "rioters".

"Apple has chosen to approve the application (...) in Hong Kong," says the organ of the Communist Party in power. And to wonder in a vitriolic editorial: "Does Apple intend to be an accomplice of the rioters?"

The apple firm, because of major financial issues in mainland China, has always refrained from taking a position on sensitive issues, and generally complies with Beijing's requirements by removing from the country applications deemed inappropriate.

Invited by AFP to react, Apple has not commented immediately.

© 2019 AFP