Big Trouble in China: 'Tibet Day' to Threaten Trail Blazer Broadcasts? (UPDATED with Randy Leonard)

When Commissioner Randy Leonard and the rest of the City Council declared March 10 as Tibet Awareness Day, Leonard says a delegation from the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco suggested there could be economic consequences for Portland.

But Leonard and Mayor Sam Adams refused to yield to Chinese pressure and renounce their city proclamation declaring Tibet is independent.

Now, a Beijing newspaper and Chinese blogs are reporting that Beijing's threatened consequences could be severe.

Blogger Sinologistical Violoncellist has the story: China may cut off Trail Blazer games broadcast to its huge TV market as a result of the City Council proclamation.

Leonard tells WW he was surprised by the threat.

"China is a fairly sophisticated country. This does not seem like a sophisticated response," Leonard says. "They're certainly creating a much bigger stage upon which the Tibetans can articulate their cause to the world than they would ever have otherwise got if the Chinese had not reacted the way they have."

Leonard said Friday afternoon he had not yet heard from the Trail Blazers.

We have a request for comment out to Adams. We'll update this post when he responds.