Pouring into Hong Kong’s main square by the thousands, pro-Democracy protesters pushed the limits, daring Beijing to intervene. Amassing troops and tanks on the Hong Kong border, Beijing stands ready to set down the sometime violent protests, looking for Mainland China to stay out of Hong Kong. While an extradition bill spurred the protests June 9, it’s clear that Hong Kong’s protesters want much more than to stop and extradition bill. China warned the Canadian government today to stop meddling in Hong Kong and China’s affairs, giving credence to pro-Democracy activists looking to upend China’s policy of “one government, two systems,” when it comes Hong Kong. Pro-Democracy demonstrators look for assurances from the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong government to get permanent commitments from Beijing to permanently stay out of Hong Kong’s affairs.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Chystia Freeland and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Frederica Mogherini said, “Fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly . . . must continue to be upheld,” prompting as sharp rebuke from Beijing. Beijing wants no one meddling in China’s internal affairs, especially when it comes to Hong Kong, the former British Crown Colonly that lived under British rule for over 100 years. When Communist China took over the territory June 15, 1997, concerns were raised about its future with Beijing calling the shots. While Beijing tried to reassure Hong Kong about its autonomy from the mainland, there were skeptics back then. Canada and the EU’s support for pro-Democracy demonstrations irked Beijing prompting a strong statement from the Ottawa Chinese embassy. “Immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and Chinese internal affairs,” said the embassy.
Watching from afar, it’s tempting for Western powers to admonish Beijing for expecting Hong Kong residents to engage in the same law-and-order expected on the mainland. Since Hong Kong falls within Beijing’s authority, it’s unrealistic for Western powers to think Beijing’s going to let the protests go on indefinitely. While everyone knows the April 15, 1989 to June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, it’s unlikely to happen again in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s geography, with its catacomb of narrow streets, wouldn’t permit Chinese tanks. While the Red Army could crack down on street protesters, another bloodbath isn’t likely. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who presents China’s best face to Western democracies, has a real dilemma trying to set down demonstrators, while, at the same time, looking humane. Hong Kong’s pro-Democracy activists have been pushing the envelope.
Lecturing Beijing doesn’t go over well on the mainland where Xi’s ruling party won’t let demonstrators get out of hand. “Under the current situation, the Canadian side should be cautious on its words and deeds regarding the Hong Kong related issues,” said a statement from a spokesman for the Ottawa Chinese embassy. When doing business with Xi’s China, Western governments like to think Beijing shares the same values, when in fact Xi’s ruling party is a totalitarian dictatorship. Whatever growing middle class exists in China, Chinese citizens know there are no civil rights in China. Protesters in the mainland are dealt with harshly, imprisoned, vaporized or serving life sentences in forced labor camps. No one form the West, including President Donald Trump, has the capacity to influence the Chinese government without fallout, especially given the current U.S. trade war with China.
` Beijing won’t tolerate much more violent protesting without calling in the Red Army, if Hong Kong police can’t stop the chaos. China takes Hong Kong seriously, not as a staging ground for pro-Democracy protests but as one of Beijing’s sovereign territories. Whatever Hong Kong residents experienced under British rule for a 100 years, it’s no longer relevant today. It’s a shame Hong Kong residents got their taste for Western freedoms but circumstances have changed. Beijing isn’t likely to grant Hong Kong the autonomy that protesters want, including free speech and the right to peaceably assemble. “The relevant protests and demonstrations in Hong Kong have already deteriorated and evolved into extreme violence in the face of such severe violence and offenses, no government with a sense of responsibility would sit idly by,” said the Ottawa Chinese embassy statement.
Pushing their luck to the breaking point, Hong Kong activists aren’t going to achieve their goal of autonomy from Beijing but backed Xi into a corner forcing him to send in the Red Army. After arresting Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd Chie Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant Dec. 1, 2018, Chinese-Ottawa relations have been strained. After arresting Meng in Vancouver, China retaliated, seizing two Canadians in Beijing. Canada has about 300,00 citizens working in Hong Kong, subject to Beijing’s arbitrary detention and arrest. Trump’s been reluctant to condemn Xi for considering cracking down in Hong Kong. So far, Xi has shown restraint while he considers his options going forward. If violent protests continue, there’s no question Xi will flex his muscle in Hong Kong. China wants Western powers to bite their tongues while it considers its next move.
