[Correspondent Diary] China's Intentions Behind Resuming NBA Broadcasts After One Year

Reconciliation Gesture... Expressing Willingness to Improve Relations with the US through Sports Diplomacy
A Desperate Measure Amid Concerns of a Half-Participation at the 2020 Beijing Winter Olympics

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] On the morning of the 10th, China's state-run CCTV broadcast the NBA, which had been suspended for a year.

The suspension of NBA TV broadcasts originated from a brief Twitter post. In October last year, the Houston Rockets' general manager posted a message supporting the "Hong Kong protests fighting for freedom," which angered not only the Chinese Basketball Association but also the Chinese government.

The Twitter post caused a huge ripple effect. Among the 25 Chinese companies sponsoring the NBA, 18 stopped cooperating with the NBA, and CCTV did not broadcast NBA games. The estimated loss suffered by the NBA is over $400 million (approximately 460 billion KRW).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, "When engaging in exchanges and cooperation with China, one must understand the will of the Chinese people," subtly encouraging the Chinese basketball community.

Various interpretations are emerging regarding CCTV's sudden(?) NBA broadcast. CCTV explained the reason for resuming the broadcast, stating, "This year, the NBA office has consistently shown goodwill by providing significant help to the Chinese people fighting against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)."

This broadcast is being seen as a gesture of reconciliation from the Chinese side. It is interpreted that China indirectly expressed its willingness to improve relations with the U.S. through sports diplomacy.

Sports have played a pioneering role in improving relations between hostile countries. The ping-pong diplomacy of the 1970s is a representative example. The U.S. and China eased the Cold War through table tennis exchanges. Basketball has been a catalyst for exchanges between the U.S. and China. When China's basketball hero Yao Ming joined the Houston Rockets in 2002, exchanges between the U.S. and China became more active.

Photo source Baidu capture

There is also an analysis that this is a desperate measure by China with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in mind.

It is interpreted that China is concerned that if U.S.-China conflicts intensify further, the Beijing Winter Olympics could become a half-hearted event. There are talks of boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics in Western camps such as Europe. The 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 LA Olympics failed as the West and the communist bloc respectively did not participate.

Along with this, there is an interpretation that China is showing its traditional tolerance by now easing the situation after demonstrating its massive economic power. China has made it clear that economic damage follows if they are angered.

China's state-run Global Times reported on the NBA broadcast, saying, "As the NBA side realizes its mistake and shows goodwill to make amends, Chinese sports fans will gladly provide an opportunity to prove their sincerity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.