THE United States government 'stands with' pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, US Vice-President Mike Pence said in a speech criticising Beijing, as well as Nike and the NBA for bowing to the 'authoritarian regime'.
Hong Kong is a living example of what can happen 'when China embraces liberty', Mr Pence said, amid continuing pro-democracy protests there against the city's government and Beijing, reported Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
'To the millions in Hong Kong who have been peacefully demonstrating to protect your rights these past months, we stand with you,' he said, urging protesters 'to stay on the path of non-violent protest'.
Weighing into an international spat over an NBA team general manager's expression of support for the protesters, Mr Pence condemned those in basketball league who have sided with the Chinese government's criticism of the sports executive.
The league was 'acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime', said Mr Pence, who also condemned Nike for pulling Houston Rockets merchandise from Chinese stores in the wake of the comments from the team's general manager, Daryl Morey.
'Nike promotes itself as a so-called social justice champion,' Pence said, 'but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door.'
In a conspicuous display of social justice concern, Nike joined a corporate boycott against moving cargo through Arctic waters in an effort to help save the planet from the 'climate change emergency.'
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Hong Kong is a living example of what can happen 'when China embraces liberty', Mr Pence said, amid continuing pro-democracy protests there against the city's government and Beijing, reported Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
'To the millions in Hong Kong who have been peacefully demonstrating to protect your rights these past months, we stand with you,' he said, urging protesters 'to stay on the path of non-violent protest'.
Weighing into an international spat over an NBA team general manager's expression of support for the protesters, Mr Pence condemned those in basketball league who have sided with the Chinese government's criticism of the sports executive.
The league was 'acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime', said Mr Pence, who also condemned Nike for pulling Houston Rockets merchandise from Chinese stores in the wake of the comments from the team's general manager, Daryl Morey.
'Nike promotes itself as a so-called social justice champion,' Pence said, 'but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door.'
In a conspicuous display of social justice concern, Nike joined a corporate boycott against moving cargo through Arctic waters in an effort to help save the planet from the 'climate change emergency.'
WORLD SHIPPING