U.S. Vice President Mike Pence faulted Nike Inc. for its approach to social justice related to China, saying the company “willfully ignores the abuse of human rights.”
According to excerpts of a speech on China being delivered Thursday in Washington, Pence said: “Nike promotes itself as a so-called ‘social-justice champion,’ but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door.”
The vice president said Nike removed Houston Rockets merchandise from shelves to join the Chinese government in protesting a tweet from the Rockets general manager on Hong Kong.
He also faulted some of the National Basketball Association’s biggest stars and owners, saying they regularly speak out against the U.S. but stay silent when it comes to rights of those in other countries.
“In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime,” Pence said.
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