Hong Kong’s pro-US extremist riots continue as authorities prepare to criminalize Western intervention in the politics of this administrative region of China.
According to reports, after yesterday’s riots, special forces were deployed throughout the city. The number of arrests increased to 360. As you know, among the detainees were schoolchildren, who were used by organizers of protests in anti-government provocations.
Today, protests continue. According to Reuters, dozens of demonstrators broke into the mall with anti-government slogans. In particular, they chanted: “Good children do not become police officers”.
It is expected that the Chinese parliament should already today approve the decision to pass a law on combating extremist activities, terrorism and foreign interference, which has become the cause of US dissatisfaction. It is intended to accept it before the end of summer.
Against this background, the head of the US State Department Michael Pompeo said the US administration will change the approach to the region, which could not maintain a high degree of autonomy from China. In fact, Washington is turning to pressure on Hong Kong, depriving it of special trading conditions. Such a decision will be a cruel blow to one of the largest financial centers and, accordingly, will entail even more protests.
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.
On Sunday, riots broke out in the city again. The brutality of the radicals forced the security forces to disperse them using water cannons and tear gas, and one of the key American proteges in Hong Kong revealingly appealed to the United States to legislatively protect extremists acting for Washington’s interests.