Thread by @MatthewFoldi

New from me @TheSpectator:

In the latest example of the NBA's "addiction" to Communist China and its cash, the Wizards played a video message from China's new foreign minister, who has threatened war with the United States!

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(1/xx)

China’s new foreign minister, @AmbQinGang, issued his first public statement at @WashWizards game. “Happy Chinese New Year to DC family,” he said, in a video blasted on screens across @CapitalOneArena and shared by outlets controlled by the CCP.

https://twitter.com/cgtnamerica/status/1617008162275528711

(2/xx)

This is a continuation of China using American sporting events to exert its soft power, and is another stark example of the existential challenge the US faces in its struggle to outmaneuver Chinese Communists — even in its own capital!

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(3/xx)

For some @WashWizards fans, visits from @AmbQinGang are a regular part of the viewing experience. Last Chinese New Year, he appeared on the stadium’s Jumbotron, touting the fact that the Wizards were the first NBA team to visit China back in 1979.

https://twitter.com/AmbQinGang/status/1486382636582981637

(4/xx)

In the past, @AmbQinGang even shot hoops from the @NBA court last month, back when he was China’s ambassador to the US!

https://twitter.com/AmbQinGang/status/1607900014705082370

(5/xx)

The @ChineseEmbinUS boasted “the staff tossed many Chinese zodiac rabbits to the audience and triggered a ‘scramble’…The panda mascots, played by Chinese diplomats’ children, made an impressive appearance on the court, winning loud applause”

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(6/xx)

China’s increased presence in American sports is raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill, located a few miles away from @WashWizards.

With @AmbQinGang in an elevated role, a new @HouseGOP majority eager to tackle the China challenge is taking notice.

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(7/xx)

“It’s disgraceful NBA and Wizards would allow a genocide-denying official who is threatening global security such a platform,” #FL06's @michaelgwaltz told me. “I hope the China Select Committee zeroes in on the NBA’s addiction to Communist China.”

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(8/xx)

#FL06's @michaelgwaltz, a longtime China hawk, is right.

@AmbQinGang has denied the widely reported genocide of China’s Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang for 10+ years, calling accusations “big lies of the century” in releases posted by the CCP! ⤵️

fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_66…

(9/xx)

China's new foreign minister, @AmbQinGang, also *threatened war* with the United States and Taiwan as recently as last year.

@ZacharyFaria reported on that here

washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/why-do…

(10/xx)

#IA02's @RepAshleyHinson is a newly appointed member of the House’s bipartisan China Select Committee. She told me that she plans to focus on the relationship between @NBA and China.

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(11/xx)

“Giving CCP mouthpieces a platform whitewashes their human rights abuses, but unfortunately this isn’t the first time the NBA has given way to the CCP to make a buck...

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(12/xx)

...Americans and American companies must be clear eyed about the CCP and their propaganda – this will be a focus of our work on the China Select Committee.” #IA02's @RepAshleyHinson told me.

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(13/xx)

The NBA’s ties to China have been described by Republicans, including @michaelgwaltz, as an “addiction.”

This is an interesting point considering how many are now describing @tiktok_us as "digital fentanyl."

https://twitter.com/MatthewFoldi/status/1602396716359188480

(14/xx)

To that end, #ARSEN @TomCottonAR, one of the party’s leading voices on foreign policy, told me “the NBA is so addicted to the Chinese market that it’s been reduced to carrying water for the Chinese state.”

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(15/xx)

China, however, isn’t fooling many. #ALSEN @SenKatieBritt tells me that “everything the CCP does is as our adversary, and we can’t lose sight of their true motivations — which run counter to the best interests of hardworking American families.”

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(16/xx)

#ALSEN @KatieBrittforAL added that “it’s particularly shameful that a regime actively committing genocide against its own people is being given a public platform to speak about symbolizing ‘kindness.’”

thespectator.com/topic/china-wo…

(17/xx)

Importantly, @CapitalOneArena isn’t just home to an @NBA team, something Chinese communists are aware of. As the US was mounting its diplomatic boycott of the Chinese Olympics, @AmbQinGang appeared on the Jumbotron during a @Capitals game.

freebeacon.com/national-secur…

(18/xx)

As @ChuckRossDC and I reported at the time @FreeBeacon, "A correspondent for @cgtnamerica, a state-controlled propaganda outlet, distributed plush toys to fans and recruited Capitals mascot @Caps_Slapshot to toss Chinese souvenirs into the crowd"

freebeacon.com/national-secur…

(19/xx)

The @Capitals and @WashWizards are both owned by @MSE, which also owns @CapitalOneArena. For years, the firm has been at the forefront of using DC-based sports teams to create what Forbes described as a “gateway to China.”

forbes.com/sites/leeigel/…

(20/xx)

Monumental’s owner, billionaire Ted Leonsis, is bullish on the future of China as the next great hub for @NHL. It’s possible that he will be in the running to purchase the @Nationals as well, which would expand his DC sports empire even further.

theathletic.com/3713860/2022/1…

(21/xx)

In addition to Leonsis, another one of the wealthy owners of @WashWizards is Laurene Powell Jobs, who sits on an $18 billion fortune that was built on the back of cheap Chinese labor.

freebeacon.com/national-secur…

(22/xx)

Beyond @NBA and @NHL, other American sports conglomerates and their billionaire owners have shown signs of appeasing Beijing, or long-term plans that will offshore American jobs to China.

espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

(23/xx)

As @HoustonKeene reported, the @NFL falsely labeled Taiwan as part of China in 2021

foxnews.com/politics/nfl-r…

(24/xx)

Additionally, the iconic American baseball bat brand @sluggernation is now owned by Chinese conglomerate Anta Sports Products

wdrb.com/in-depth/chine…

(25/xx)

Even crazier is the fact that Louisville Slugger owner Anta Sports Products helped kick off China’s boycott of @NBA after @HoustonRockets general manager @dmorey tweeted in support of Hong Kong protesters in 2019.

reuters.com/article/us-chi…

(26/xx)

As @jackbeyrer reported @FreeBeacon, the @MLB has longterm expansion plans for China that look horrible for Americans

#FLSEN @marcorubio has been all over this for a while now

freebeacon.com/national-secur…

(27/xx)