Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban on Monday doubled down on his public approval of the NBA's partnership with China.
In a long and wide-ranging group thread on X that started earlier this week, Cuban faced a question about whether he would approve of the NBA's business partnership with China amid the human rights abuses that have occurred under the current administration.
The question was asked by Chuck Flynt, a former chief of staff to Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who has strongly opposed the NBA's partnership with China.
Mr. Flynt's questions specifically pointed to NBA-backed training camps in Xinjiang, where the Chinese government is oppressing the Uyghur people, which the U.S. government considers genocide.
“I've said I'm against China and all human rights abuses. The NBA exports content to China and gets paid for it. I'm fine with that,” Cuban replied. in same postCuban promoted a film he claimed to have made about Chinese influence in the American stock market.
Cuban's reaction is the result of a divergent conversation of various mentions, reactions, and captioned re-shares that began with a single post of Cuban posing with former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Ta.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cuban clarified that the post was not an endorsement of Trump.
Meanwhile, despite multiple human rights violations, including the genocide of the Uyghur people, forced population control through forced abortion, forced sterilization, involuntary implantation of contraceptives, and forced labor in nearby or affiliated facilities. , has weighed in and championed the NBA's partnership with China. Same with concentration camps. All of these violations have been documented and acknowledged by the U.S. Department of State.
The Cuban team has focused on its relationship with the Chinese government and has been aiming to enter the Chinese market in 2018. rebranded itself It has a new name that targets the Chinese demographic. As a result of this change, the team's translated name was switched from “Little Cows” to “Lone Ranger Heroes.”
Cuban previously defended the NBA's business with communist regimes in an interview on Megyn Kelly's podcast in October 2020.
“They're our customers. They're our customers,” Cuban said. “So what do you think, Megyn? I'm fine with doing business with China. Look, I wish we could solve all the world's problems, Megyn. I'm sure you would too. But we can't. That's why we do it.'' To pick our battles. ”
Dallas Mavericks owner poses for a photo with fans before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the 2018 China Games at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai on October 5, 2018. Mark Cuban. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
In the same interview, when asked if he blamed the regime for the genocide in Xinjiang, Mr. Cuban did not specifically condemn it.
“Personally, I prioritize domestic issues. When it comes to human rights, I oppose all human rights violations around the world. China is not the only country with human rights violations,” Cuban said. “The way we declare things in this country, the moment we make a declaration anywhere, this is going to be used as a headline.”
Mark Cuban Sparse and Riley Gaines over the Harris border crisis that brought immigrants into the U.S. for murder and sexual assault.
A 2022 ESPN investigation found NBA owners have more than $10 billion tied up in China, including owners who have joint ventures with companies sanctioned by the U.S. government. This includes one person. another ESPN investigation In July 2020, it was revealed that one of the basketball training camps in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was referred to as a “sweat camp for athletes” by a coach stationed in Xinjiang. At least two coaches have resigned in response to what appears to be abuse of young players.
Concerns have also been raised over the use of forced Uyghur labor in the production of sports apparel by companies like Nike, whose products are used by the NBA.
Visitors to a military museum in Beijing walk past China's second nuclear missile on display on July 23, 2007. (TEH ENG KOON/AFP via Getty Images)
Cuban's refusal to condemn China is consistent with the failure of major NBA figures, including superstar LeBron James, to condemn China's violations or the league's business with China.
It's a rare case of an NBA executive being associated with an opposition party, but the Asian country reacted harshly.
In October 2019, former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a photo on social media supporting Hong Kong protesters against the Chinese government. Shortly after, Morey's tweet was deleted, and the Chinese Basketball Association subsequently announced that it would cease all cooperation with the Rockets. Morey was eventually forced to apologize, and the NBA released a statement calling his tweet “regrettable” and clarifying that his support for Hong Kong protesters “does not represent the Rockets or the NBA.” The Rockets also reportedly considered firing Morey to appease China, according to multiple reports.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at a conference celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held in Beijing on September 20, 2024. (Xie Huanzhi/Xinhua News Agency, via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom testified before Congress in July 2023, claiming that criticism of China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims affected his NBA career.
“After the third game, one of my teammates walked up to me and said, 'Enes, you know this is your last year in the NBA, if you criticize China or Nike. Then you'll never be able to play basketball in this country.'' So have fun, laugh, and hope you win this year, because this is your last year and your basketball career is over. Because it will,” Cantor wrote in written testimony to Congress.
Kanter was released by the Houston Rockets in February 2022 and has not played in the NBA since. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Freedom's departure from professional basketball had nothing to do with his position on China.
Since then, aside from Kanter and Morey, very few major NBA figures have spoken out against China, and several NBA stars, including Cuban-born Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, have spoken out against China during the NBA China tournament. As part of this, he is visiting China. game.
Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai told reporters in February that the NBA has continued to communicate with China more than four years after the Chinese government suspended broadcasts of the league's games in response to Morey's comments. “We are in a very good position” in relation to
“In fact, China is the NBA's biggest fan base. So what happened before, I think it's water under the bridge,” Tsai said.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official on Taiwan has warned that China is increasing its aggression toward Taiwan. islandand that its people are ready to fight. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense tracks 8 people china military aircraft And earlier this week, two naval vessels were seen near the island. The Defense Ministry said four of the eight planes crossed the median line separating China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait, but Beijing, which claims ownership of Taiwan, does not recognize the geographical boundary. Fox News Digital previously reported.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcastplease subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
