The since-deleted tweet by Morey read: “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”

“We want to express our indignation and strong condemnation,” Li-Ning stated on Weibo. “We have already stopped our cooperation with the Houston Rockets, and continue to urge them to give a clear answer on this matter.”

SPD Bank also announced it was suspending related marketing activities with the team.

“SPD Bank Credit Card Center expresses strong protest and opposition to the wrong remarks made by Houston Rockets’ General Manager Daryl Morey,” the bank said in a statement.

The Houston Rockets have a strong following in China thanks to the most famous Chinese basketball player of all time, Yao Ming, who the team drafted in 2002. Chinese fans followed his entire Hall of Fame career with the Rockets, making it a sensitive issue for both parties.

Protests in Hong Kong have made worldwide news over the past couple of months thanks to increased violence between the government and those fighting for increased rights and freedom. China appears extremely sensitive to outside parties encouraging the demonstrators, especially within a group they have strong ties to.

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta denounced Morey’s tweet, saying the Rockets are not a political organization.

Tilman Fertitta

✔@TilmanJFertitta

Listen….@dmorey does NOT speak for the @HoustonRockets. Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization. @espn https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1180312072027947008 …

“Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization,” he said.

“I have the best general manager in the league,” Fertitta told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “Everything is fine with Daryl and me. We got a huge backlash, and I wanted to make clear that the organization has no political position. We’re here to play basketball and not to offend anybody.”