In the past year, thousands of people in Hong Kong have demonstrated against China. China has wanted to remove some Hong Kong dissidents and put them on trial in China. Now, the legislature of China has met. It enacted new security laws. The aim of these laws is to curtail freedom of expression in Hong Kong.
A Hong Kong native said, “At the end of the day, we have to accept that we answer to one country. And that country is more and more powerful.” He meant that Hong Kong would have to accept China as that “one country.”
China has been on the move in recent weeks. It wants to show its economic, diplomatic and military muscle across the region. For example:
Chinese ships rammed and sank a fishing boat in waters off Vietnam;
China denounced the second inauguration of Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen;
China dropped the word peaceful from its annual call for unification with Taiwan;
Chinese troops squared off with India’s troops along their border in the Himalayas.
Observers say it looks like China is not worried about the opinion of the world. China may be looking back at how Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Nations denounced Russian leader Putin. But Russia is still in control of Crimea.
In summary, China is no longer feels restrained by the opinion of the world.
The real face-off with China is the United States. U.S. President Trump is blaming China for the Covid-19 virus pandemic outbreak. His statements have not deterred Xi Jinping, the president of China. Some say they have made Xi Jinping even more determined.
Now, President Trump continues U.S. actions against China. He has imposed restrictions on trade and technology with China. He praised the inauguration of the new president of Taiwan.
A law professor in China said that the United States is pouring oil on the fire. He said the Chinese government is just safeguarding its basic national security interests.
A rally in Hong Kong in October calling for the U.S. to sanctions Chinese officials for cracking down on protesters. Photo Credit: Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times.
Hong Kong remains the big concern. Britain signed a 1984 treaty that promised Hong Kong basic freedoms until 2047. Britain, Australia and Canada have currently said that they were “deeply concerned” about China’s intent. Trump officials have warned that they could reconsider U.S. relations with Hong Kong. President Trump’s few comments about Hong Kong have been inconsistent. He has said little.
Many nations support Hong Kong’s unique status as Asia’s commercial and cultural crossroads. Warnings no longer work in the face of determined pressure from China.
A long time observer said, “The international pushback has been so weak. Beijing is daring foreign governments to continue to issue words but take no actions.”
Source: The New York Times May 24, 2020
