For a so-called patient people with the ability to think ahead centuries, the CCP sure seems in a hurry to control Hong Kong fully in violation of their two-decade-old commitment. China is very powerful. Hongkongers should fear what the Chinese Communist Party can do to them. But maybe China should fear Hongkongers.
The United States has spoken out in favor of the Hong Kong people resisting the CCP:
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday condemned China's effort to take over national security legislation in Hong Kong, calling it “a death knell for the high degree of autonomy" that Beijing had promised the territory.
Pompeo called for Beiing to reconsider the move and warned of an unspecified U.S. response if it proceeds. Meanwhile, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said China risked a major flight of capital from Hong Kong that would end the territory's status as the financial hub of Asia. Shortly afterward, the Commerce Department announced new restrictions on sensitive exports to China.
Hongkongers will need all the support they can get:
Thousands of demonstrators have been marching through the city centre. Police say 120 have been arrested.
Earlier, 200 senior politicians from around the world issued a joint statement criticising China's plan.
But China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the legislation should be brought in "without the slightest delay".
China is seeking to pass a law that would ban "treason, secession, sedition and subversion" in the territory.
Activists fear it is an attempt to limit freedoms and silence Beijing's opponents.
Pictures here.
Interestingly enough, Taiwan's president has spoken out for the people of Hong Kong:
Taiwan will provide the people of Hong Kong with “necessary assistance”, President Tsai Ing-wen said, after a resurgence in protests in the Chinese ruled territory against newly proposed national security legislation from Beijing.
Welcoming refugees is good.
But perhaps a counterattack by Taiwan and the people of Hong Kong is in order. Taiwan should set up a League of Democracies institute to promote rule of law democracy, with some of those Hong Kong refugees, and welcome participants from around the world. Maybe those 200 statement-signers would be a good list to invite in the first round.
If China fears "treason, secession, sedition and subversion" against the horrible CCP regime, give the bloody autocrats in Peking something to fear.
Various tips to Instapundit.
UPDATE: This could get ugly:
Not since the eve of the 1989 Tiananmen slaughter have we seen China’s communist regime more clearly girding to demolish a vibrant democracy movement. Thirty-one years ago, China’s Communist Party shut down democracy protesters in Beijing by shooting them in the streets. This time the CCP’s target is the former British colony of Hong Kong, where protesters turned out in huge numbers last year to defend the rights and freedoms that China promised them for at least 50 years after the 1997 British handover. Now, while the world grapples with the China-spawned coronavirus pandemic, China is preparing a national security law that would override Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous system. Under this law, as previewed by China’s authorities, Beijing could criminalize any activity in Hong Kong it deems a threat, and send mainland security operatives into Hong Kong as enforcers. Hong Kongers have richly demonstrated that they are a freedom-loving people, unlikely to bow down en masse and obey. The stage is set for a nightmare showdown.
Communists are murderous bastards. Expect the worst.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, Secretary of State Pompeo declared that Hong Kong is "no longer autonomous from China[.]"
Consequences will flow from that declaration. Let's see if our House of Representatives stands with China on this issue.
