https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9575-5884
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ABSTRACT
Economic statecraft is defined as a state’s utilisation of economic means to pursue policy goals. The National Basketball Association (NBA)’s recent experience with China provides an illustrative example of economic statecraft. In response to a pro-Hong Kong demonstration tweet by an NBA general manager, China perceived a challenge to its national sovereignty. China effectively silenced the NBA by using conditional market access to target both the league’s organisational and individual financial interests within China. By leveraging the interests of various commercial actors, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) directly targeted the NBA rather than pressuring the U.S. government. To counter Chinese economic statecraft, a multifaceted approach is recommended. The approach includes government-led education on Chinese censorship laws, increased transparency that provides full disclosures of conflicts of interests, and encouraging sport organisations to publicise and unite in response to Chinese economic statecraft.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).