This is particularly interesting when juxtaposed with the position the NBA has taken with regards to Enes Kanter and his opposition to the Turkish government. While there are differences in the exact tactics employed by Turkey and China, both are repressive, authoritarian regimes that regularly jail or kill people who present opposition the political party in power. So I think it's fair to say that the only real difference here is the volume of revenue the NBA has generated and wants to continue to generate from China. I will say, it would be really interesting if something like this ends up becoming a major turning point for how average US citizens view China, but given the way NBA leadership seems to be leaning, and the comments from other players to this point (James Harden), I wonder if the cracks in the dam are repaired and nothing further happens.
I don't know if this is the right avenue for this, because maybe this is a little to V&N-esque, but this is a major danger for companies that want to continue to do business in China in the future. From the NY Times, China's social credit program for businesses is threatening to
reduce the score for foreign airlines that refuse to label Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau as part of China. So we're talking about the Chinese government literally reducing a score that is used to guide citizens towards or away from businesses because of the language that is used. 1984 was just 35 years too early.
It feels an awful lot like we're at a critical juncture where companies and individuals have to make a decision as to which way they want to go on this, because as China's influence grows, there won't be much choice at all. I think one of the key balances that needs to somehow be struck is differentiating between the Chinese government, which is pushing this, and Chinese citizens, both abroad and domestic, who could very easily end up on the wrong end of racist views for actions that have nothing to do with them.