Opinion | Xinjiang cotton row: Nike’s ties with Chinese sport too hard to cut
- Xinjiang cotton row threatens Chinese football and basketball funding while Olympics deal with Anta is set for social media scrutiny ahead of Tokyo 2020
- Financial support unlikely to be replicated by domestic brands as political posturing and patriotism online question deals with US manufacturers
It’s ironic that a fabric no longer used in sportswear is threatening to have a lasting impact on Chinese sport.
Cotton may have been replaced by polyester and other man-made materials but the row over Xinjiang cotton has replaced the NBA furore as Chinese sport’s latest bête noire.
Nike’s comments – made last year no less – on their refusal to use Xinjiang cotton over human rights concerns were dragged up this week and with it the sportswear giant’s stock plummeted.
Rival Adidas is in a similar boat, along with other international brands such as New Balance, as Chinese social media patriotism and government pressure pile up.
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Xinjiang, China’s top cotton producer
Various celebrities have abandoned their own endorsement deals and have been praised in China for doing so.
Sports stars have largely remained silent, bar for Chinese Basketball Associaton star Zhou Qi who pledged his support for Xinjiang cotton on social media.