This week has been monumental in terms of political developments around the world and has set in motion conflicts that will likely remain an important topic for many weeks, or even months ahead. But without a debt, the central issue right now is the fact that the National People’s Congress in China officially passed the new security law regarding Hong Kong yesterday. Thus, China is making a move for the first time since pro-democracy protests first began in Hong Kong in 2019 in response to a proposal for a similar law back then.
The newly embraced law has been quite controversial because it infringes upon several aspects that pertain to Hong Kong’s autonomy from China. Most notably, the law criminalizes secession (i.e. Hong Kong cannot leave China), sedition (speaking up against China, in the context of inspiring secession-like attitudes), and in general other forms of criticism against the Chinese government. The law also allows China to use its police and intelligence forces in Hong Kong to suppress protests or persecute critics of the Chinese Communist regime.
The official stance of the Chinese government regarding the law is that it is being drafted for Hong Kong’s own good. But people in Hong Kong feel that many of the law’s clauses violate directly past agreements which have established Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status. Many warn that if the law comes to be, it will be the end of Hong Kong, making it as good as annexed by China.
Needless to say, Hong Kong citizens have taken to the streets again to protest this law, which is arguably worse than the proposal which sparked last year’s protests. It is expected that a month or two might pass before the law is fully written and officially comes into effect. If protests are not over by then - and Hong Kong has proven its ability to protest for months on end - China will be able to send its own forces to disperse them.
Besides worsening the situation in Asia, where the markets in China and Hong Kong have been crashing, the new law is also escalating the tension between China and the United States. The US is considering new sanctions against China. We might also see the permanent withdrawal of American businesses from Hong Kong, which thus far received special treatment from the United States and many tariffs against China did not apply.
Moreover, US armed forces are moving in the South China Sea. The governments of the two countries have already exchanged harsh comments. Today we expect further actions from President Trump, who is to hold a press conference on the issue of China and Hong Kong.
