by steve » Tue Feb 15, 2022 2:31 am
Here is Nike's official statement:
https://purpose.nike.com/statement-on-xinjiang
They're talking a very thin tightrope. On the one hand, many of their loyal customers in the US are progressives who take human rights abuses VERY seriously. On the other hand, they cannot offend the Communist Part of China. This carefully crafted response was their attempt to appease both sides.
I wouldn't necessarily characterize Nike's statement as "speaking out" against human rights abuses in Xinjiang, but remember in the world of the CCP everything is relative. It's not enough to maintain neutral. If you do not praise the CCP, repeat the CCPs assertion that zero human rights abuses are happening in Xinjiang, AND publicly humiliate anyone who states otherwise, then you are part of the problem and must be taught a lesson.
As Elkmo said, Nike's business in China did in fact crater in 2021. They released the statement which they clearly hoped would be anodyne, but that sparked a "grassroots" movement in China to cancel Nike (and of course, any "grassroots" movement in China today is just a modern-day version of Cultural Revolution-style
denunciation rallies).
Despite Nike CEO
groveling in June 2021 to try to convince China that they were a brand "of and for China", Nike's business
cratered by 20% in 2021.
You can bet that the CCP will continue to fuel antagonism towards Nike, especially since 100% China-owned Anta Sports is positioning itself to replace Nike. The CCP is playing a long game here. It will continue to denigrate US culture and people to fuel China nationalism. At that point, American brands will be completely out of the picture (and China manufacturers will have learned and/or stolen enough intellectual property so that China consumers won't miss them).
So I tentatively agree with Elkmo--if there's a Nike product that's not made in China, maybe they do deserve our support. But don't be shocked if in a new months they stab us in the back again.
Here is Nike's official statement:
https://purpose.nike.com/statement-on-xinjiang
They're talking a very thin tightrope. On the one hand, many of their loyal customers in the US are progressives who take human rights abuses VERY seriously. On the other hand, they cannot offend the Communist Part of China. This carefully crafted response was their attempt to appease both sides.
I wouldn't necessarily characterize Nike's statement as "speaking out" against human rights abuses in Xinjiang, but remember in the world of the CCP everything is relative. It's not enough to maintain neutral. If you do not praise the CCP, repeat the CCPs assertion that zero human rights abuses are happening in Xinjiang, AND publicly humiliate anyone who states otherwise, then you are part of the problem and must be taught a lesson.
As Elkmo said, Nike's business in China did in fact crater in 2021. They released the statement which they clearly hoped would be anodyne, but that sparked a "grassroots" movement in China to cancel Nike (and of course, any "grassroots" movement in China today is just a modern-day version of Cultural Revolution-style [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denunciation_rally]denunciation rallies[/url]).
Despite Nike CEO [url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/560386-ceo-nike-is-a-brand-that-is-of-china-and-for-china]groveling[/url] in June 2021 to try to convince China that they were a brand "of and for China", Nike's business [url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-20/nike-sales-top-estimates-overcoming-supply-chain-issues]cratered[/url] by 20% in 2021.
You can bet that the CCP will continue to fuel antagonism towards Nike, especially since 100% China-owned Anta Sports is positioning itself to replace Nike. The CCP is playing a long game here. It will continue to denigrate US culture and people to fuel China nationalism. At that point, American brands will be completely out of the picture (and China manufacturers will have learned and/or stolen enough intellectual property so that China consumers won't miss them).
So I tentatively agree with Elkmo--if there's a Nike product that's not made in China, maybe they do deserve our support. But don't be shocked if in a new months they stab us in the back again.