Pushing their pro-Democracy movement to the breaking point, Hong Kong activists asked 73-year-old President Donald Trump to liberate the former British Crown Colony, now part of Mainland China since July 1, 1997. Marching to the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong today, demonstrators turned an otherwise peaceful protest violent, prompting Hong Kong police to fire tear gas after vandalizing a subway station. Carrying placards saying, “Stand with Hong Kong for freedom” or “Resist Beijing, Liberate Hong Kong,” activists looked to the White House to confront the Chinese government. Wearing black shirts and masks and waving American flags, protestors carried signs saying, “President Trump, please liberate Hong Kong,” on their way to the U.S. consulate. Protestors want Trump to stand up to Beijing in the current trade war that costs both countries billions in lost revenue and thousands of jobs.
Pro-Democracy organizer Joshua Wong was re-arrested for violating terms of his bail today. Wong was arrested Aug. 30 for illegal assembly, only to watch himself arrested again today. “Hong Kong is at the forefront of the battle against the totalitarian of China,” said today’s march organizer, Panzer Chan. “Please support us in our fight,” Chan pleaded with Trump, knowing that Hong Kong’s fate was sealed the day the British lease expired, turning the British Crown Colony over to Beijing. While today’s pro-Democracy demonstrators don’t like the Communist government, Beijing has done nothing illegal trying to implement the “one country, two systems” policy, allowing Hong Kong to have autonomy from the Mainland China. Hong Kong has been plagued with nearly daily protests for three months over an extradition bill that would have sent Hong Kong residents to Beijing for prosecution.
Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed administrator Carrie Lam was the target of the demonstrations demanding that she resign, only to watch Lam rescind the extradition bill Sept. 3. With Wong back in jail, pro-Democracy demonstrators are asking for much more than canceling the extradition bill. Demonstrators want independent elections for Hong Kong’s leader plus an independent probe into police brutality. No longer do activists only want Lam to resign they directly challenge the authority of Hong Kong’s authority to maintain law-and-order. Appealing to Trump to help, pro-Democracy demonstrators don’t know that the U.S. president won’t support anarchy or the rights of Hong Kong residents to supersede Beijing. Locked in a stubborn trade war that could cost Trump his reelection, Trump isn’t going to meddle in Beijing’s internal affairs, no matter activists’ demands.
Activists want the U.S. Congress to pass the Hong Kong Democratic and Human Rights Act, guaranteeing Hong Kong residents the right to pick their own form of government. If passed in Congress, the bill would punish Hong Kong’s preferred trade status if officials find authorities suppressing democracy and human rights. “Singing the Star Spangled Banner,” protestors handed the U.S. consulate and appeal letter, asking the U.S. for help. But what the pro-Democracy activists are really asking Washington is to fight their pro-Democracy battle, including going to war with Mainland China. Pentagon officials are studying how to get out of Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, not how to start WW III. Violent protestors lashed out at subway station, breaking glass and spraying graffiti on buildings. Trump is not going to back lawlessness and violence against Hong Kong authorities.
Chinese state-run media has already accused the U.S. of fomenting violence in Hong Kong. State Department officials confirmed that China “falsely accused the United States of fomenting unrest in Hong Kong.” State Department officials in Hong Kong have done nothing to encourage violent protests, only asking Beijing to show restraint in dealing with pro-Democracy protesters. Trump told Beijing to avoid cracking down with violence the way they did June 4, 1989 when Beijing ran tanks over pro-Democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, killing thousands, injuring thousands more. Whether 65-year-old Chinese President Xi Jinping wants to crack down, Hong Kong geography would not permit it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on Hong Kong authorities to stop the crack down, promising to speed the Hong Kong Freedom Act quickly through the House.
Trump’s in no position to lecture Beijing how to deal with civil unrest in Hong Kong or any other place. House Democrats seized on the chance to embarrass the president, trying to railroad the Hong Kong Democracy and Human Rights Act bill through the House. Pelosi knows the president’s in no position to confront Beijing militarily to advance freedom in Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents understand what happened July 1, 1997 when the British Crown Colony was forced to give back the territory to Beijing. If residents don’t like living under Beijing’s authority, they should use their current freedom to immigrate to a more democratic country of their choice. Trump isn’t about to start WW III to satisfy Hong Kong’s pro-Democracy activists not happy living under Beijing’s rule. Washington has enough of its own problems to meddle in China’s internal affairs.
