Washington (AFP)

US Vice President Mike Pence vehemently denounced the overly conciliatory attitude of the NBA and Nike towards China, stressing US support for the Hong Kong protesters.

The former British colony returned to China in 1997 and now autonomous territory, has been shaken since June by increasingly violent demonstrations, which require in particular more civil liberties and autonomy.

"We are at your side," Pence said during a speech in Washington, urging protesters to stay "on the road to nonviolent protest."

Echoing Donald Trump's warnings, he assured that any recourse to violence on the part of Beijing would jeopardize the conclusion of a trade agreement between Washington and Beijing.

For several weeks, a crisis has pitted China against the North American Basketball League (NBA), due to a tweet from Daryl Morey, the general manager of the Houston Rockets, in support of protesters in Hong Kong.

"Some of the biggest players and franchise owners in the NBA, who exercise their right to criticize this country every day (the United States), lose their voices when it comes to the freedoms and rights of other peoples. ", said Mr. Pence during a speech in Washington.

"By putting itself on the side of the Chinese Communist Party and silencing freedom of expression, the NBA behaves like a wholly-owned subsidiary of an authoritarian regime," he added, opting for a particularly offensive tone. .

In mid-October, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James sparked strong reactions by claiming that Texas General Manager Daryl Morey "did not know enough" and "was misinformed" when he issued a message of support to Hong Kong protesters in early October.

The player has a contract for life with the Nike equipment manufacturer, for which he often makes promotional trips to China - where he is extremely popular.

- "Social awareness at the door" -

The US vice president has also blatantly attacked the equipment manufacturer, "who claims to be a + champion of social justice +," but who, when it comes to Hong Kong, "prefers to let his social conscience at the door".

If these spades were centered on the situation in Hong Kong, the tensions between the White House and the comma brand are not new.

LeBron James is a fierce critic of Donald Trump he accuses of trying to "divide" America by fueling racial tension.

In September 2018, Nike made a big splash by choosing American footballer Colin Kaepernick for a major advertising campaign.

The latter became in 2016 the figurehead of a protest movement against police violence, by kneeling on the ground during the American anthem. This campaign had earned him to be attacked with extreme virulence by Donald Trump.

After Daryl Morey's controversial tweet, Chinese companies suspended their sponsorship, as well as the broadcast rights negotiations with the NBA, while several teams were in full Asian tour.

At the beginning of the crisis, the NBA had said in a statement to be "deeply disappointed by the inappropriate remarks" of the leader of the Texas franchise. But the institution, criticized by US officials for these words seeming to be right in Beijing, then said she would not apologize and continue to support "freedom of expression."

The Chinese public television CCTV did not air Wednesday (Tuesday night in America) the opening matches of the new basketball season in the United States. This is an unusual event in China, which has many fans of the NBA, especially since the presence of star Yao Ming in the championship during the 2000s.

© 2019 AFP