(NewsNation Now) — The NFL announced Wednesday that 18 groups have been awarded internet marketing rights throughout eight distinctive countries, like China, in an energy to draw NFL followers all over the world.

But the move is boosting queries from some amid strained U.S.-China relations.

The initiative, recognised as the International Dwelling Advertising and marketing Regions system, grants golf equipment entry to international territories for advertising, enthusiast engagement and commercialization, in accordance to a news launch from the NFL.

The objective is to construct the league’s world id and encourage NFL fandom the globe more than.

But the announcement introduced rapid scrutiny when its map outlining the international staff partnerships involved Democratic Taiwan as portion of China.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to criticize the NFL’s map.

“The NFL, which is chasing pounds from the Chinese Communist Celebration, shows Taiwan as aspect of China. Disgraceful cowardice,” Cruz wrote.

The NFL’s campaign enables the L.A. Rams to sector its crew and develop its lover base not only in China, but also in Australia and Mexico.

On the heels of the NFL press, even so, President’s Joe Biden’s administration introduced new sanctions versus China more than human rights abuses. The U.S. also has announced a diplomatic boycott of the forthcoming winter season Olympics in Beijing for the very same cause.

Previously this month, the Women’s Tennis Affiliation introduced its individual boycott of gatherings in China more than considerations for the protection of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai.

Shuai is a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused China’s former vice premier of sexual assault. Soon after the accusation, Shuai disappeared from general public lifestyle and concerns commenced to swirl about her security. She reappeared right after 3 months, and no clarification was provided for her absence.

The NBA’s Enes Kanter Freedom has been a vocal critic of China, contacting the Olympic boycott “good but not excellent sufficient.”

China observers agree, with the conservative Heritage Foundation warning the Biden administration to do additional.

“Five…