This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Hong Kong's Challenge to Xi Jinping's Iron Rule ¶
As the protests in Hong Kong continue, they pose a direct challenge to China's Communist Party control. The protesters' demands for more self-rule and investigations into police use of force strike at the very heart of the party's fiercely held monopoly on power and coercive violence.
On August 14, 2019, thousands of protesters descended on the Hong Kong airport, seriously disrupting operations and scuffling with travelers. The scenes of chaos and violence at the normally impeccable airport threatened a huge disruption of the city's economy, and came as a shock even to the demonstrators.
However, the protesters have apologized for their actions, with contrite posters and posts appearing on Wednesday. 'Please accept our sincere apology to all travelers, press reporters, paramedics,' read one. 'We will learn from our mistakes.'
The difficulty now is to ensure that the eruption of violence at the airport does not become a point of no return, after which President Xi Jinping concludes he has no choice but to react. The United States and its allies have a distinct interest in preventing this outcome.
For that to happen, Carrie Lam, the leader of Hong Kong, and her superiors in Beijing must show restraint and convince the people of Hong Kong that they will not further erode the citizens' rights and liberties, enshrined until 2047 in a treaty with Britain. President Trump should join with Britain and other allies in insisting that China honor Hong Kong's special status, and in making clear that any use of armed force to crush dissent would lead to stern and certain sanctions.
