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Xi Jinping in Beijing in March 2015.
- China's Communist Party is very sensitive to any content seen to jeopardize its grip on power, and regularly censors social media posts and movie scenes.
- Many foreign companies have incurred its wrath for reasons including - according to the government - misconstruing Chinese politics and insulting Chinese citizens.
- The Chinese market is very valuable as people there are spending more and more on international goods and travel.
- Here's a list of eight foreign companies - from Versace to Marriott Internationals to the NBA - who have groveled to China after offending it.
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The NBA is at the centre of a storm in China after Daryl Morey, the general manager of the Houston Rocketstweeted his support for the Hong Kong protests, offending Chinese NBA fans, companies, and the country's government, and leading to a days long dispute.
The league this week has found out what many other Western brands have discovered in recent years: China is a tricky country to do business in.
The ruling Communist Party is extremely sensitive to any content seen to jeopardize its grip on power, and regularly censors social media posts, movie scenes, and news coverage that may be used to criticize the government.
It has also attacked multiple foreign brands and companies for - in its opinion - getting involved in Chinese politics, misconstruing the country's borders, and aggravating Chinese citizens.
Many brands have kowtowed to the Chinese government over these issues, which isn't surprising given the clout of Chinese consumers in global retail.
Despite a slowing economy, mainland Chinese consumers spent 170 billion yuan ($23 billion) 0n luxury goods in 2018, according to Bain & Company, with the number set to grow.
Scroll down to see how eight companies incurred China's wrath - and how they kowtowed to the Communist Party.