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When It Comes To China, WTA Proving More ‘Courageous’ Than The ‘Cowardly NBA,’ Former Ambassador Says

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When it comes to China, the Women’s Tennis Association is proving far more “courageous” than the “cowardly NBA,” former U.S. Ambassador to China Winston Lord said.

The governing body of women’s tennis announced Wednesday it was suspending all tournaments in China and Hong Kong — nine in total — due to the uncertain status of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai. Shuai alleged last month that she was sexually assaulted by China's former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. The Chinese government deleted her post on the social media site Weibo, as well as her account. For weeks, there has been concern over Peng's safety, with stars like Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chrissie Evert and Serena Williams expressing concern.

“The decision by Steve Simon and his Board of Directors to suspend operations in China is the most courageous move on human rights that I can recall any sports organization making,” Lord, former U.S. Ambassador to China and former member of the WTA Global Advisory Council, wrote in an email.

“The proportionate financial stakes of the WTA in China dwarf those of the cowardly NBA and other sports groups. I hope, but do not expect, this step will serve to shame and galvanize other organizations and businesses to counter the economic intimidation and political bullying of China.”

WTA CEO Steve Simon said he is "greatly concerned" about the risks all players and staff would face if they were to hold events in China. The WTA recently held its year-end Finals in Mexico instead of China due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way. While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation," Simon said in the statement.

“The WTA has been clear on what is needed here, and we repeat our call for a full and transparent investigation – without censorship – into Peng Shuai's sexual assault accusation.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic said he supports the WTA’s stance.

“I support WTA's stance,” he said. “It's life of a tennis player that is in question here so we. We need to stand together: male and female players, ATP and WTA.”

The comparison to China by Lord and others arises from events in 2019 when then-Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey Tweeted criticism of the Chinese government in terms of dealing with human rights protestors in Hong Kong. Morey is now with the Philadelphia 76ers.

At the time, Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta said Morey “does NOT speak for” the Rockets, adding that the Rockets “are NOT a political organization.” Morey soon backtracked on his initial Tweet.

In the wake of the Tweet, the New York Times reported that the Chinese Basketball Association “was suspending cooperation with the Rockets,” an especially notable development considering Yao Ming played for the Rockets from 2002-11. Sneaker brand Li Ning and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Card Center paused their relationships with the Rockets.

NBA stars like LeBron James have been criticized ever since by those on the right for their refusal to actively criticize the Chinese government about its human rights abuses of the Uyghurs and other groups while standing for the Black Lives Matters movement and human rights in the U.S.

Boston Celtics center and Turkish native Enes Kanter Freedom has criticized not only James, but Nike and Michael Jordan as well on this front.

"The thing is, whenever I talk about LeBron, whenever I talk about Michael Jordan, the Black athletes in the league are the ones reaching out to me and saying, 'Listen, talk about this person,'" Freedom said. "Not many people know this, but they are the ones giving me talking points. When Black Lives Matter protests happened, I was the third one in the whole league that went out there and protested. I was actually wearing my jersey. I wanted them to know that I am with them.

"But when these issues are happening, some of the other players out there in the league are scared to say anything against LeBron or Jordan ... but they are reaching out to me and giving me talking points and say, 'Listen, you talk about LeBron. It's amazing — but he's at least standing up for things in America. Why don't you say anything about Michael Jordan? The only thing he is doing is just giving money, but he is remaining silent. He's scared to speak up.'"

The WTA isn’t scared to speak up — and they are putting their money where their mouth is. Some have urged the ATP to do the same, including ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe.

As for the NBA, the league will likely have to come to grips with this issue moving forward.

“To say that yes we’ll [show concern for human rights] in the U.S., but we don’t care about the human rights of people in other countries where we choose to operate is worrying,” Iain Levine, a professor of international and public affairs who teaches “Human Rights Research and Reporting” at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. told me in 2019.

“And my sense is that they just have not properly thought through the implications of operating in a country as repressive as China.”

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