Pulling a LeBron James might enter the lexicon as something along the lines of:
“as, of, or pertaining to, selling out liberal values for a Chinese Communist Party buck”.
Sinocism has the links:
The most seminal moment of a week full of chaos, volatility and confusion came on Oct. 9, when NBA commissioner Adam Silver met with both teams and that meeting was immediately followed by a players-only discussion among both teams….
Lakers star LeBron James spoke up in front of everyone in the room and stated he believed that Silver and the NBA needed to explain and articulate the situation first, before the players would have to, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the meeting told The Athletic. James expressed concern that without the league being able to speak to media to address all of the questions and dynamics about China and the NBA, it was unfair for solely players to bear that responsibility.
Multiple league front-office and ownership sources tell The Athletic that they believe Silver will be able to regain a foothold in the NBA-China relationship but fear irreparable losses for the Rockets in the indefinite future. The NBA and Rockets have supported Morey’s freedom of expression, and both decided not to discipline him.
Agents’ advice on NBA-China spat: ‘No upside to speaking out’ | HoopsHype
“I think it’s absolutely unfair,” one agent said. “Players typically want to speak out against social injustices, but because this isn’t happening here in the U.S., the players don’t necessarily know what is going on in China or in Hong Kong and they don’t understand the human-rights violations involved. And if these players aren’t knowledgeable on this subject, they shouldn’t speak out.”
“After Klay Thompson rolls out of bed and fixes a 300-year debate in China via Twitter, should he then move on to fixing Palestine?” another agent wondered. “[Brooklyn Nets owner] Joe Tsai said it perfectly: It’s just one of those things that exist that is beyond comprehension and debate; it’s a third rail.”
LeBron James Says Tweet Supporting Hong Kong Protests Was ‘Misinformed’ – WSJ $$
James has openly spoken about his ambition to be a billionaire, and he risked the consequences of losing business in China if his comments made him an enemy of Beijing.
In addition to his production credit and starring role in “Space Jam 2,” which has enormous commercial appeal and is considered a likely candidate for Chinese distribution, James has the deepest ties of any player to another industry that relies on China’s gusher of money: sneakers.
James has a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike, and China is the biggest source of growth for shoe companies. Nike recently announced its plans to release an apparel line based on the motto of James’s media company: “More Than an Athlete.”
In first comments on NBA-China saga, LeBron goes Jordan – SBNation.com
Here’s the money sentence from LeBron’s comments, courtesy of Silver Screen and Roll: “I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke, and so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. So just be careful what we tweet and what we say, and what we do.”
LeBron followed up with two tweets, the first clarifying he wasn’t explicitly standing with China on the substance of Morey’s tweet and the second reiterating that Morey’s timing on the tweet is his issue. If you have to issue clarifying tweets after your first comment in a week, you’re in a bad spot…
This episode doesn’t diminish LeBron’s social advocacy on domestic issues. He’s made real, positive change for kids in Akron and beyond. But this is something that will stick with LeBron and change the way a certain segment of people who have championed him see him.
“Pulling a LeBron” might qualify for this little lot, via the ANU’s Geoff Wade:
Australia: Warwick Smith, Canberra’s head of the new National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, talks Australia-China Belt and Road with PRC technocrats in Beijing last weekendhttps://t.co/HQBfTIBUUt pic.twitter.com/sJuWEaXvAj
— Geoff Wade (@geoff_p_wade) October 15, 2019
More here:
Time: 2019-10-11 14:55:21 Source: Public Diplomacy Network Release: Public Diplomacy Network[Public diplomacy Reuters 2019 Nian 10 Yue 11 days, China and Australia ” along the way ” cooperation and exchange of high-level seminar held at the cultural center of public diplomacy. Members of the Australia-China “Belt and Road” Industrial Cooperation Center delegation, China Global Innovation Center, Public Diplomacy Cultural Exchange Center, Beijing Modern Urban Development Research Center and other related industry research and public diplomacy institutions and industry representatives attended the seminar.研究Zhao Gang, Research Fellow, Strategic Research Institute of China Ministry of Science and Technology, Director General of Global Innovation CenterThe seminar was hosted by Dr. Zhao Gang, Research Fellow of the Strategic Research Institute of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and Director of the Global Innovation Center.▍ former Australian Federal Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb ( Andrew Robb )Former Federal Minister for Investment and Trade of Australia Andrew Robb ( Andrew Robb ) said in his speech, Australia “along the way” industrial cooperation center has been the fourth consecutive year, sent a delegation to China . The delegation hopes to further deepen understanding with China through this visit and strengthen industrial cooperation . Four previous visit to China, industrial cooperation center has concerned the construction industry, agriculture , infrastructure construction, the focus of the focus of sustainable development . Over the past three years , industrial cooperation center to witness the ” along the way ” evolving extension and research in various fields has made a positive progress . The cooperation between China and Australia is promising . I believe that this seminar will further promote the exchange and cooperation between Australia and China in achieving sustainable development through industrial integration .▍ public diplomacy and cultural center President Ma ZhenxuanMa Zhenxuan, president of the Public Diplomacy Cultural Exchange Center, said in his speech that since the introduction of the “ Belt and Road ” , it has made positive progress, created many important opportunities, opened up new impetus for economic growth, and added new potential for economic and social development of all countries. Contributed to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The current China and Australia cultural exchanges increasingly close, China is the largest source of tourism revenue in Australia and students country of origin. He highly appreciated the positive efforts of the Australia-China “One Belt, One Road ” industrial cooperation center to promote industrial exchanges and cooperation between the two countries . He hoped that the seminar would exchange new achievements.▍ former federal finance minister Lindsay Australia · Tana ( Lindsay Tanner )Former federal finance minister Lindsay Australia · Tana ( Lindsay Tanner ) said in his speech, ” along the way ” under the framework of Australia’s bilateral cooperation is of great significance. Over the past 20 years in Australia he has experienced three government . Attend today’s event Australia’s delegation, including myself included, I happen to have three former ministers were from these three governments. Frankly, although there are many issues on the differences, they seize “along the way” the great opportunity to achieve Australia’s constructive highly consistent on cooperation . He hopes that the seminar will discuss the issue of sustainable development and promote the in- depth cooperation between the Australian and Chinese business communities .常Executive Deputy Director of Beijing Modern Urban Development Research Center and Wang Wei , Youth Committee of Zhi Gong DangBeijing Development Research Center, deputy director of the modern city , China Zhi Gong Dang Youth Committee Wang Xi said in his speech , China-Australia bilateral relations, the development of new achievements. Since 2013 Nian ” along the way ” initiative put out since, “along the way” building with impressive results, has made great achievements. Practice has proved that the “Belt and Road” is a platform for openness, fairness and cooperation, achieving the effect of mutual benefit .▍ director of the Research Institute of China Unicom large data center Wei Jinwu (Right)▍ Beijing University of Technology Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wu Aixiang (Right)▍ BHP Billiton responsible for legislative and public affairs chief Martin exam Mansfield ( Martin Commons )▍ professor at Monash University in Australia Robert Sibo Ou ( Robert Sparrow )▍ Sheng Engineering Ltd. Deputy General Manager Wang Chao Director▍ vice president of public diplomacy Cultural Exchange Center Chen Ming An▍ Professor of Law University of International Business and Economics, the country opening up researcher Li Weigang▍ leading Australian independent oil and gas company Woodside chief scientist Neil Kavanagh ( Neil Kavanagh )The seminar was co-sponsored by the Global Innovation Center, the Australia-China “One Belt and One Road” Industrial Cooperation Center, the Public Diplomacy Cultural Exchange Center, and the Beijing Modern Urban Development Research Center. At the seminar, Wei Jinwu, Director of the Big Data Center of China Unicom Research Institute, Vice President and Professor Wu Aixiang of Beijing University of Science and Technology, Martin Commons , Chief of Legislation and Public Affairs of BHP Billiton Group, and Roberts, Professor of Monash University, Australia Robert Sparrow , Wang Chao, Deputy General Manager of Zhonghao Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Chen Mingan, Vice President of the Center for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange, Professor of Law School of the University of International Business and Economics, Li Weigang, Research Fellow of the National Institute of Open University, and Australia’s well-known independent oil and gas The company’s Woodside chief scientist Neil Kavanagh and other Chinese and Australian guests attended the speech and exchanges around the theme of the event.▍ Australian former federal public services and local government minister Warwick Smith ( Warwick Smith )▍ seminar site▍ seminar site▍ seminar site▍ seminar siteGuests attending the seminar also includes: former federal minister of local government administration and public services Australia Warwick Smith ( Warwick Smith ), Australian mining leader EMR investment chairman Owen Hegarty ( Owen Hegarty ), the world’s largest company blasting Victor Xie , Chairman of Orica Limited China , and Joanna Bunting , Counselor of the Australian Embassy in China .(Photo: Yong Jun)The Australia-China “One Belt, One Road ” Industrial Cooperation Center is a non-profit organization officially supported by the Australian Federal Government. It aims to provide practical cooperation for Australia-China “One Belt, One Road ” industry cooperation with the Australian government, large enterprises, industry organizations and think tanks . Suggestions and programs to assist the Australian and Chinese governments in bilateral dialogues and consultations to promote the joint planning and implementation of Australia-China “One Belt, One Road ” special projects. In 2017 , the agency was the only Australian industry representative to attend the “One Belt, One Road ” International Cooperation Summit with the Australian Minister of Investment and Trade, the Minister of Tourism, and the Governor of Victoria . At the same time, the agency also acts as the governor of Victoria and the special advisor to the state government to assist the state government in formulating the “One Belt, One Road ” development strategy.(Copyright statement: Where the ” Public Diplomacy Network ” or ” Public Diplomacy Network News ” is a copyright video, unless otherwise stated, reprinted or edited must be authorized, contact number: +8610-85804320 )
Plenty of the usual suspects hard at work there. Then again, it might as well be all of Canberra, via Crikey:
The Australian parliament appears ready for a bipartisan ratification of a so-called free trade agreement (FTA) with Hong Kong’s widely discredited administration. But why are they even bothering? This is a deal with a city/state that is already one of the world’s most mobile, liberal trading economies.
Inking a deal with an administration that is subjugated to Beijing is the latest misstep by a government that has no idea how to deal with China.
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam’s government has presided over a potentially terminal weakening of the “one country, two systems” principle. The Lam administration further exacerbated this decline with an attempt to introduce an extradition bill that would, in effect, allow mainland Chinese authorities to shuffle anyone they wanted into the black hole of the Chinese legal system.
The People’s Republic of China has had a creeping and well-documented influence in Hong Kong since the territory was handed back by the United Kingdom in 1997. This trend has accelerated in recent years, and was one of the main drivers behind the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests that saw part of central Hong Kong occupied peacefully.
Lam’s extradition bill triggered the most recent crisis, which has seen street protests roil the city for the past 19 weeks. The Hong Kong government’s response to protests has convinced a substantial portion of the population that “one country, two systems” is not in effect; that their government does not serve the Hong Kong people; and that their police force has become a tool of political enforcement rather than rule-of-law enforcement.
Yet Australia’s politicians remain unconvinced — at least when it comes to trade.
While the US Congress stands up, via Bloomie this morning, and hitting the AUD:
The U.S. House gave support to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by passing a bill that would require an annual review of whether the city is sufficiently autonomous from Beijing to justify its special trading status under U.S. law.
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is one of four measures passed by the House Tuesday in unanimous voice votes. The bill provides for sanctions against officials “responsible for undermining fundamental freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong.”
A similar bill is also before the Senate, though the timing of a vote there remains uncertain. The legislation has bipartisan support in both chambers.
As Angry China responds:
Q: It is reported that the U.S. House of Representatives plenary session reviewed and approved the “Hong Kong Bill of Rights on Human Rights and Democracy” on the 15th. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
A: We express our strong indignation and resolute opposition to the US House of Representatives’ insistence on adopting the so-called “Hong Kong Bill of Rights on Human Rights and Democracy.”
At present, what Hong Kong faces is not the so-called human rights and democracy issues, but the issue of ending violence, rectifying order and upholding the rule of law as soon as possible. The US House of Representatives ignores the facts, reverses black and white, and calls serious crimes such as arson, smuggling shops, and violent assaults as human rights and democracy. It is a naked double standard that fully exposes some people in the United States on human rights and democracy. Extremely hypocritical and undermining the sinister intentions of Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and containing China’s development. The United States also has important interests in Hong Kong. If the relevant bill is finally passed into law, it will not only harm the interests of the Chinese side, but also damage Sino-US relations, and it will seriously damage the interests of the United States.
With regard to the wrong decision of the US side, China will surely take effective measures to resolutely counteract and firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests.
I want to stress once again that Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and cannot be interfered by any outside forces. We advised the US side to recognize the situation and immediately stop promoting the review of the relevant Hong Kong bill and immediately stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Perhaps it is fairer to say that LeBron James just “pulled an Aussie”.
