The vice president of the United States, Mike Pence , criticized the way that the NBA has to "duck" before China and called the organization of the basketball league "subsidiary" of the Asian regime, amid the conflict that began at the beginning of the month a tweet by Daryl Morey, owner of the Houston Rockets.

"Too many American companies have bowed to the attractiveness of China's money and markets by silencing not only criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, but even expressions of American values," he said in an appearance in Washington DC.

Morey's support for the protests in Hong Kong brought the rebuke from China and the attention of the NBA of the Asian giant that is having "dramatic financial consequences," in the words of the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver.

"Some of the greatest players and owners of the NBA, who routinely exercise their freedom to criticize this country, shut up when it comes to the freedom and rights of the people of China. As they side with the Chinese Communist Party and silence freedom of expression, the NBA is acting as a subsidiary of the authoritarian regime , "said Pence.

The NBA canceled all press conferences of its tour in China. "A corporate culture that ignores the abuse of human rights is not progressive, it is repressive," he added. In addition, he attacked a famous sportswear brand. "Nike promotes itself as the 'champion of social justice', but when it comes to Hong Kong, he prefers to check his social conscience at the door," he said.

" Nike stores in China withdrew their products from the Houston Rockets to join the Chinese government in protest against the seven-word tweet of the Rockets manager who said: 'Fight for freedom. Support Hong Kong.' they must defend American values ​​here and around the world, "he added.

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