Former NBA star Dwight Howard sparks fury in China over reference to Taiwan as 'country'

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Eight-time NBA All-Star and former NBA champion Dwight Howard is facing criticism on Chinese social media after he referred to Taiwan as a country in a promotional video posted to Twitter.

Howard, who has been playing the in the Taiwanese professional basketball league since November, filmed a promotional video for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alongside Vice President William Lai. 

Center Dwight Howard, #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards, reacts at the court during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on Feb. 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)

"Hello everyone, I’m Dwight Howard and since I came to Taiwan I’ve gained a whole new appreciation of this country," the former NBA star said. 

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"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."

Lai also refers to Taiwan as a "free country." 

According to a Reuters report, the hashtag #HowardTaiwanindependence had nearly 400 million hits on Friday on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo. 

Center Dwight Howard, #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards, fights for basket during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on Feb. 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)

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Taiwan first split from mainland China in 1949, but China still claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan. The