SCHOLAR: NEWS REPORT Hong Kong Demonstrations

            There is massive upheaval currently in Hong Kong.  These demonstration challenge the ruling party of China.  The protesters have attempted to march down streets with banners.  They have stopped traffic in numerous avenues causing disruption in the city centers.  These protests are as a result of the Hong Kong governments new national security legislation.  The legislation prevents and punishes secession, subversion and foreign infiltration which Beijing blames as the causes of unrest in the city state.  This legislation would allow Beijing to set up operations in Hong Kong.  This legislation directly undermines the “one country, two systems,” principle in which Hong Kong was given back to China by the UK.  Therefore, protests have emerged to ensure that people maintain their rights and freedoms in the hands of the oppressive Chinese Communist Party.  These protests have become so violent that police have resorted to using “batons, pepper spray, tear gas and on a dozen occasions, live rounds” (New York Times, 2020).  Protests have been ongoing for a year now.  The incident in which stimulated these massive protests was in relation to an extradition legislation by Hong Kong.  Had this legislation gone through it would have allowed extradition to mainland China.  A Hong Kong officer was accused of using excessive force.  He faces charges over the shooting of a protestor during the initial round of demonstrations.  On Thursday a Hong Kong judge summoned this traffic officer to appear in court.  The concern is the misuse of authority.  Protesters want police officers to be accountable for their actions.  Although a government panel cleared the police of accusations that they had used excessive force protestors still reject it.  

            I think with consideration of the Chinese Communist Party and their underhanded tactics, the protestors will loose against the Hong Kong government.  The Chinese Communist Party has a history of violent repression tactics.  One should look at the Tiananmen Square riots for clues as to how China will absolve these modern demonstrations.  According to Tilly, Charles and Sidney Tarrow repression is defined as, “the attempt by a state or its agents against challengers in order to end their challenge by arresting them, harassing them, or destroying their organizations” (2015, pg 37).  China is a repressive regime that silences those that go against its policies.  Some ways that this has been done is through the censorship of media and the internet.  They undermined public faith by publishing articles exclusively for good propaganda.   In this, they misuse facts and change the story as with the Tiananmen Square incident.  In relation to the current demonstrations, I think history will repeat itself.  China is considered a “Relatively undemocratic Regime,” as according to Tilly, Charles and Sidney Tarrow.  This means that it is a place where people lack political rights and civil liberties.  China is a place where voices get silenced and people get oppressed and imprisoned for going against their regime.  According to Freedom House Rankings for Selected Countries in 2012, China scored the, “lowest possible ratings on both political rights and civil liberties” (Tilly et al., 2015, pg 67).  Therefore, I believe the protestors have a loosing fight against China, which I think is sad for democracy. 

REFERENCES

New York Times.  (2020).  Hong Kong Officer is Summoned to Face Charges Over Shooting of Protestor.  Retrieved from:  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/world/asia/hong-kong-police-charges.html

Tilly, C.  et al.  (2015).  Contentious Politics.  Oxford University Press.