Chicoms are too weak to withstand criticism of policies

Mark Clifford, South China Post:
China’s targeting of the NBA shows why it may fail at building soft power – and the Chinese dream


  • By narrowing the boundaries of commentary, China is gradually alienating outsiders who might see opportunities there
  • In attacking the NBA, which does not need China and would be difficult to replace, Beijing may have finally gone too far

...
No other state would think of doing what China has done. This is behaviour unworthy of a proud, confident country with 2,000 years of statecraft.

It smells of brittleness, insecurity and a government’s doubts about its own legitimacy. A confident country would not even notice a political tweet by a foreign sports executive.

Would the French react with such vehemence if Morey had tweeted in support of the gilets jaunes ? I don’t think anyone would have noticed – or if they did, cared. Who, after all, takes a basketball executive’s view on another country’s politics seriously?

Companies that are doing business in Hong Kong or China might have few choices as the red lines narrow. Cathay Pacific needs the China market more than China needs the airline. It operates some of its most important routes, thanks to the grace of the Chinese regulators.

The NBA doesn’t need China. It is one of the few organisations that could turn its back on the country. There is no easy substitute – I don’t see Major League Baseball taking basketball’s place among Chinese fans. This may prompt China to grow its own basketball league.

However this turns out, the sorry spectacle is yet another illustration of an increasingly polarised world.
...
There is more.

China's reaction to Morey's tweet has caused a backlash in the US against China's attempt to thwart democracy in Hong Kong.   It is a growing backlash.  China is not even getting to sell the T-shirts opposing theri crackdown on those seeking freedom.

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