Through its representatives in Hong Kong, the US administration legitimizes a political blow that could cause irreparable damage to the economy of one of the world financial centers.
So, Fernando Zhang, a lobbyist for American interests in the Hong Kong legislature, supported the statement by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to change Washington’s approach and called for sanctions, not only against Beijing, but also against Hong Kong.
“We would like the US to impose sanctions on government officials who participated in the undermining of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong, and stopped all high-tech exports to Hong Kong”, – said Zhang.
Jimmy Lai, a media mogul and sponsor of anti-government protests, called Hong Kong’s only salvation “sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump”.
“We really hope that by the weekend he will impose very draconian sanctions on China”, – Lai said in a comment to Bloomberg, recommending, in particular, to freeze the bank accounts of leading Chinese politicians.
One of the key instigators of the riots, US henchman Joshua Wong, did not stand aside. He demanded that Washington deprive Hong Kong of special trading status. Thus, the former British colony will face the same tariffs as China. This, according to the idea of Wong, should deliver a “powerful economic blow” in the name of democracy, however, it is Hong Kong that will be the victim.
Hong Kong Anti-Government Protests
In June 2019, mass rallies began in Hong Kong, accompanied by pogroms and clashes with the police. The official reason for the protests was the extradition bill. If adopted, Hong Kong would be able to detain and extradite persons wanted by Chinese security forces to Beijing.
The demonstrators were openly supported by Western countries, in particular the United States and Great Britain. The protests themselves continued even after the authorities refused to pass the law. The most absurd occasions were invented for the campaign. For example, at the end of August last year, the radicals smashed subway stations allegedly because of poor quality of service, and also demolished smart lampposts that collect information about road traffic and the level of air pollution. The fact is that the protesters discerned in them a system of total surveillance by the authorities.
Shares in Hong Kong stopped amid the coronavirus pandemic and resumed in late April. A series of actions took place on May 1, and ten days later, riots broke out in Hong Kong with barricades and arson. Against this background, the Chinese government decided to introduce a law on national security in Hong Kong.
The document, among other things, criminalizes foreign interference and undermining state power in this administrative region of China. Thus, the implementation of anti-government activities is complicated here and the US State Department has already demanded that Beijing not to prevent Washington from interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong.
In an attempt to thwart the Chinese government, the radicals staged protests in the city for several days, accompanied by pogroms, arson, and clashes with the police. During this time, hundreds of violators were arrested, and one of the key American proteges in Hong Kong revealingly appealed to the United States to legislatively protect extremists acting for the interests of Washington.