In Hong Kong, continuing riots. Even the Chinese authorities recognize, that the enclave is experiencing the most problems after, as 22 years ago it was included in China.
Thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong
Tension persists in Hong Kong for several months, almost from the beginning 2019 of the year. But in recent 60 days the situation has grown every conceivable scope: despite, that on the streets of the city displayed an impressive police force, a count of the number of detainees for a long time in the hundreds, mass rallies do not stop. The head of the Office of the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Zhang Xiaoming said, that Hong Kong is facing the biggest crisis of all time after its transmission in the People's Republic of China.
A few days ago about 14 thousands of people held the largest in the past 50 years of general strike. Ceased to work, the Hong Kong Metro, They were blocked main streets and bridges. Airlines canceled more 200 aircraft flights. For mass protests, that start radical youth, joined the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, which is 200 thousands of people.
The strike and mass demonstrations are involved not only young students and activists of social movements, but also civil servants, workers and urban infrastructure, specifically took a day off to take part in mass protests. Joined the speeches and the employees of Hong Kong airport, which is one of the busiest in the world. And, to them it was not a question of the management, strikers do not go to work on legal grounds - and take sick leave at his own expense.
5 August police arrested 82 rioters, but this measure did not make any impression on the rest of the protesters. It does not stop them, and then, more 40 people have already appeared before the court and they face up to 10 years in prison for participating in the riots.
Administrative Secretary of Hong Kong Carrie Lam said, that the situation in the city threatens not only the security of citizens, and undermines the very foundations of the sovereignty of China over Hong Kong. It is already understood and Beijing, just started talking seriously about the transfer of Hong Kong to run parts of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to riot. After all, Hong Kong police can not cope with the protesters, and can, and does not want to deal, Considering, and that the police themselves - residents of the city, ie relatives, acquaintances, neighbors protesters.
symbolically, that one of flagpoles protesting disrupted Chinese flag, and then drowned in the Bay of Hong Kong under the enthusiastic roar of the crowd of protesters. Now for information about, who did this, It has offered a reward of $ 1 million Hong Kong dollars (more 8 million. rubles).
Because of what is raging Hong Kong
As is known, also in 1842 , Hong Kong has been captured by the United Kingdom. But most of the territory of the city part of Hong Kong to London 1898 It was leased from the Chinese Empire for a period of 99 years. Despite numerous political transformation, that China has undergone in the twentieth century, Progressed from the Manchu Qing Dynasty to the People's Republic of China, Britain has never refused to fulfill their obligations to the country and later 99 years after the conclusion of the lease transfer Hong Kong to China. In the end, what happened.
AT 1997 , Hong Kong ceased to be a British colony and became a member of China. One of the conditions of entry have been following the principle of "One Country, two systems ". he suggested, Hong Kong, joining the Chinese, will retain full autonomy in internal affairs, including its own judicial system. This is not surprising, Considering, that Hong Kong people have lived for generations in the British jurisdiction. Excessive rigidity of Chinese laws most residents of the city would have to not like, because historically they used to live in a free environment, the other legal system.
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But then it became known on the preparation of extradition law. According to this law, of Hong Kong, committed crimes, We could be extradited to mainland China to serve out their sentences in Chinese prisons. This decision has caused widespread dissatisfaction among the residents of the city, who had heard about the harsh conditions in prisons China.
But do not think, that the majority of Hong Kong considered themselves potential criminals. Just extradition law was perceived by them as an attack on the autonomy of the city, its legal system, Until recently, virtually independent of the legal system in Mainland China, on the same principle of "One Country, two systems ".
Started rallies and demonstrations, which gradually turned into riots. Hong Kong people stormed the city parliament building, barricades, They fought with police. 21 of July on the streets of the city come out 430 thousands of people, It attacked the building of the central Office of the Government of the PRC - Demonstrators pelted him with eggs, izrisoval sign on the facade of the building.
In the end, the city authorities were forced to announce the cancellation of amendments to the Extradition Act. But then there are new slogans of the protesters - are now appearing on the streets of the citizens demanded the resignation of the Administrative Secretary of Hong Kong Carrie Lam, new elections, organization of the investigation of police actions during the dispersal of mass protest.
West hand
Beijing carried out the connection between the riots in Hong Kong and the Western powers hostile policy towards China. The thing is, that the first about the situation in Great Britain was worried. One side, focus London to Hong Kong is understandable - a half century the city was under British rule and some responsibility for his fate in the UK still feel.
But China has warned the British from interfering in its internal affairs and advised to go about their own problems. Especially, that there is another side to the unrest in Hong Kong - many protesters defiantly raised the British flag. This flag was attached to the wall and trapped demonstrators regional parliament. I.e, Hong Kongers, participating in protests, emphasize - it was under the British rule of the best, than it is now under Chinese rule. Says a lot and demonstrative ripping the British flag. Some protesters go with posters, on which were written the anti-China slogans.
However, this situation can already be directly characterized as a threat to China's territorial integrity and its sovereignty over Hong Kong. Therefore, in Beijing and suggest, that the organization of mass disorders may be involved in the British security services, acting through public organizations under their control.
That is, the West uses the "Orange Revolution" technology (or, by analogy with Ukraine, "Maidan"), to achieve their goals - to weaken China, to focus his attention on domestic issues, and at the same time to show the world, and that in China everything is calm, that the inhabitants of the richest cities in the country are dissatisfied with the Chinese administration and wish again to come under British control.
You can pay attention to the considerable similarity between the actions of the protesters in Hong Kong and the events on Independence Square in the fall 2013 - winter 2014 gg. Interesting, Hong Kong demonstrators themselves and do not hide their interest in Evromaydanu. At least, they are viewing video footage of the events. AND, activists noted in an interview with Western media, admire the "Revolution of dignity" in Ukraine.
But, need to mark, that Hong Kong people have stepped immeasurably more Ukrainians, especially in the use of modern technologies for mass riots. for example, during a rally 21 July interfere with the police face recognition cameras, for which special lasers used.
What is going to make Beijing
The situation in Hong Kong is increasingly straining the Chinese leadership. As it appears, in the very near future, China may send to the city of the People's Liberation Army, that will inhibit performance much worse than, than the police. The representative of China's Ministry of Defense have said Qian, that the Chinese People's Liberation Army is ready to riot in Hong Kong. Besides, Chinese authorities have published a video, which shows the, train soldiers suppressing riots.
There is no doubt, that the army will operate in Hong Kong with maximum rigidity. Do not repeat this event enclave, took place thirty years ago in Tiananmen Square. At least, if the central government will give the command to use against protesters firearms, the soldiers to execute it - in this there is no doubt.
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The use of force Beijing stops only the unwillingness to spoil relations with the West - "the world community". United Kingdom inevitably plead for the former colony, can take advantage of the situation and the US president Donald Trump, which will introduce regular duties and sanctions. by the way, it was the US as the main enemy of China and most of all interested in rocking the situation in Hong Kong. Britain in this case acts as a kind of symbol of the 'good old Hong Kong - Hong Kong », however the jackpot in the case of destabilization of the situation in any way disrupt the US.
That US economic interests and stand up for rocking the situation in Hong Kong. Human rights - only the external excuse for, make it possible to substantiate its interest in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. But China - not Iraq, not Libya, not Syria. Therefore, if the US and the UK and can be such as to express their outrage actions of Beijing, it is only through the introduction of some economic measures against China.
While China has such a development is not profitable, and still a glimmer of some hope, that the protests will be able to reduce to a minimum without the intervention of the armed forces. Especially, that the West constantly exaggerates China and the topic of application of violence against the Uighur population in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China (SUAR, East Turkestan).
But only use one to Xinjiang accusations against China difficult, especially, that in the world, and so it formed a rather negative attitude to radicals, opposing China in Xinjiang - they are in Afghanistan, and in Syria were noted, fighting on the side of the terrorist groups. The conflict in Xinjiang involved in the civilizational confrontation Muslim Uighurs and Chinese. Another thing - the prosperous Hong Kong with its citizens, shares many of the usual values of the Western world.
Anyway, there is no doubt, that the massive unrest in Hong Kong is now the most profitable to the West. As for the position of Beijing, very interesting, how long the Chinese authorities will be able to maintain composure. If unrest will come to naught in the near future, sooner or later, the leadership of China will still have to resort to the possibilities of the People's Liberation Army of China.
Ilya Polonsky
