Rep. Moolenaar Demands NBA Review Joe Tsai NBA Ties Over Alibaba Military Link

Representative John Moolenaar is calling on the NBA to evaluate Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai after the Pentagon designated Alibaba as a Chinese military company.

Representative John Moolenaar (R-Michigan), chairman of the House Select Committee on China, has called for the league to investigate Joe Tsai NBA ties following the U.S. government's designation of Alibaba as a "Chinese military company." Tsai, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets and chairman of Alibaba, faces scrutiny after the Pentagon accused the e-commerce giant of supporting China's defense industry and subsequently banned defense contracts with the firm last month. Moolenaar, who leads the bipartisan advisory committee, questioned whether the league should allow an owner to remain in its ranks while allegedly working against American interests.

The Congressional pressure follows a June 30 letter sent to Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Wizards, Mystics, and Capitals, requesting that his company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, terminate its marketing partnership with Alibaba. While Monumental responded to the committee stating it would maintain its relationship with the Chinese firm, Moolenaar described the decision as "very disappointing" and accused the organization of enabling foreign surveillance efforts. The Congressman, currently seeking re-election in Michigan, emphasized that the NBA faces a "moment of reckoning" regarding its reputation and accountability, starting with operations in Washington, D.C.

Alibaba Challenges Pentagon Blacklist

Alibaba has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense to contest its inclusion on the military blacklist, asserting there is no basis for the characterization. In a statement provided by a representative for Tsai, the company denied being part of any "military-civil fusion strategy" and claimed it is governed by an independent board unaffiliated with the Chinese military. The legal filing further specifies that Alibaba's products and services are not designed for weapons, intelligence, or defense purposes. Despite these claims, the U.S. government maintains that the company supports the defense sector of the People's Republic of China.

Tsai, a Canadian citizen born in Taiwan, was described by Moolenaar as having "zero allegiance to America" beyond his existing financial agreements. The Brooklyn Nets owner previously declined to be interviewed regarding his ties to the Chinese government, though he has publicly defended controversial policies. These include describing the crackdown on dissent as a necessity for economic growth and supporting laws used to imprison pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong to prevent separatism. Tsai has also asserted that most of China's 1.4 billion citizens are satisfied with their current situation.

NBA Business Interests in China

Reporting from April 2022 highlighted the NBA's billion-dollar business interests in China and Tsai's role within that framework. Alibaba has previously partnered with companies blacklisted by the U.S. for their involvement in mass arbitrary detention and high-tech surveillance utilizing racial profiling. Despite these reports, the league declined requests to interview Commissioner Adam Silver or Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, who manages international operations. NBA spokesperson Mike Bass stated that exporting media rights to over 200 countries, including China, aligns with the league's mission to connect people through basketball.

Monumental Sports and Congressional Oversight

Moolenaar’s committee specifically asked Monumental Sports & Entertainment to provide details of its deals with Alibaba and its affiliates. A spokesperson for Monumental confirmed the receipt of the letter and stated they had responded but offered no further comment. Moolenaar continues to push for transparency, suggesting that the NBA must decide if it wants owners who assist the Chinese military. The league and Tsai have not provided direct responses to the latest inquiries from ESPN regarding the Congressional committee's comments.