Former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> star Dwight Howard has apologized to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a> after he referred to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taiwan</a> as a country during a video with Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
Howard, who played over 15 seasons in the NBA and won a championship in 2020, upset Chinese basketball fans with the Taiwan reference in a promotional video <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ex-nba-star-dwight-howard-sparks-anger-china-calling-taiwan-country-rcna84097" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filmed</a> with Taiwan’s vice president, Lai Ching-te. 
“I’m Dwight Howard and since I came to Taiwan I’ve gained a whole new appreciation of this country,” Howard <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/basketball-player-dwight-howard-apologizes-to-china-for-referring-to-taiwan-as-a-country_5262291.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in the video. “This place makes me feel so much love and I experience so much hospitality with a friendly and great living environment with such a great diverse culture.”
The video was announcing the opportunity for people to win a night stay at Taiwan&#8217;s presidential office.
Howard, who previously played for teams like the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers, now plays for the Taoyuan Leopards, a team in Taiwan’s T1 basketball league. His comments in the video went viral on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, where he was bashed by angry Chinese citizens upset that he would suggest Taiwan is independent. 
The former NBA star quickly walked back his comments and apologized to China, saying that he was not using the word “country” in the way many interpreted. 
“Where I’m from, if I say I wanna go to the country, it doesn’t mean that place is a country. It’s just how we talk,” he said. “If I offended anyone in China I apologize. It was not my intention to harm anyone with what I said in the commercial,” Howard <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/12/china/dwight-howard-taiwan-backlash-china-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
He said that he did not mean to disrespect anyone from Taiwan or China. 
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1683992827801000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1sAvvRJ90ru6ybj_DWo2Gy">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“I am not a politician. I don’t want to get involved in any politics,” the eight-time All-Star said. “I have the utmost respect for Chinese people and utmost respect for Taiwanese people, so it was never my intent to disrespect nobody.”
Taiwan presidential spokesperson Kolas Yotaka told CNN that Chinese visitors would be welcome to come to stay in Taiwan to learn more about it. 
“We do not intend to break their hearts. We welcome them to stay in Taiwan for a few nights. If you know more about Taiwan, you will know why politicians, athletes, tourists, and entrepreneurs from all over the world like to come to our country,” she said. 
Howard’s apology is similar to when actor and wrestler <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-cena-apologizes-in-chinese-for-calling-taiwan-a-country-i-really-love-really-respect-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cena apologized to China</a> after calling Taiwan a country in 2021 during a “Fast and Furious” promotional video.
“I made one mistake. I have to say something very, very, very important now. I love and respect China and Chinese people. I’m very, very sorry about my mistake. I apologize, I apologize, I’m very sorry,” he said. 

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Former NBA Star Dwight Howard Apologizes To China After Calling Taiwan A Country

CONTINUE READING

American Journalist Charged In Anti-CCP Espionage ‘Sting’

Abortion Drugs Now Arrive As Fast As An Amazon Package

Democrat’s Financial Ties To Gender Mutilation Of Kids

Owner Of ‘Trump House’ In Critical Condition After Brutal Beating

Vanished Teen Last Seen With Sexual Predator Released After Leftist DA Screw-Up

JD Vance’s ‘Simple’ Message After Massive Medicaid Fraud Takedown

News

China

Global Politics

Sports

Taiwan

World

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Former NBA Star Dwight Howard Apologizes To China After Calling Taiwan A Country