There have be
demonstration in Hong Kong throughout the past year. The tensions are a result of an extradition
bill which would allow residents of Hong Kong to be criminally tried in
China. This bill has since been
withdrawn, however the demonstrations became much more about democracy and
freedom since its initial onset. On June
30, 2020, “China passed its new Hong Kong security law” (Leigh et al.,
2020). This law prohibits, “subversion,
secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces” (Leigh et al.,
2020). At face value it doesn’t look too
serious however, the law really is meant to outlaw political activity that goes
against the Chinese Communist Party agenda and to increase surveillance powers
of the police. For example, “chanting,
political slogans or waving banners, borrowing political books from libraries,
school students being politically engaged” (Leigh et al., 2020) all have become
illegal overnight. This law shuts down
the streams by which people ascertain democracy. It serves to disable their ability to
mobilize. According to Tilley,
mobilization is defined as, “an increase of the resources available to a
political actor for collective making of claims” (page 120, 2015). The Hong Kong governments security law is
likely an attempt to reintegrate the city state into China’s authoritative
regime. As peoples ability to mobilize
is hampered, Hong Kong is at risk for turmoil.
There is now fewer ways by which people can support freedom in Hong
Kong.
I think what the Chinese government
has done in their attempt to reclaim the city state is repressive. I think the world is being set for an
ideological fight between authoritarianism and democracy. I really didn’t believe that the people of
Hong Kong would stand for this law however, it seems that they have given in to
the terms of the Chinese government as even businesses with, “displayed protest
material since August” (Leigh et al., 2020) have taken them down. Moreover, on July 01, “protesters [were]
arrested including a man holding a Hong Kong independence flag and a woman
displaying a sign reading “Hong Kong Independence”” (Leigh, 2020). What Hong Kong has transformed into is a
state of authoritarianism. The problem
with this issue is how are people going to verbalize their demands? How are they going to display their
aversion? It is the people’s ability to
display their free thoughts that have created the western world as we know
it. The subversion in China will result
in a regime that is of the interest of only the Chinese Communist Party. Is
it not terrorism what China has done?
China seeks to maintain their political standing. What has occurred is a political crime. The Chinese Communist Parties attempts to
ensure its continuity and their silencing of competitors is a crime to the Chinese
state itself of which the state ascertained sovereignty by effect of the Treaty
of Westphalia. The state is a
composition of people in a specific geographic location. China is therefore both the government and
their subjects. Therefore, there are two
parties to this matter, the government and the subjects which represents the
state. The governments attempt to
maintain the powers vested to the Chinese Communist Party directly undermines
the subjects therefore, if it is looked at from this way, it becomes evident
that the government is terrorizing the state of China.
REFERENCES
Leigh, Karen et al. (2020).
Here’s how China’s security law is already changing the face of Hong
Kong. Retrieved from: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/11/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/china-security-law-hong-kong/
Tilly,
C. et al. (2015).
Contentious Politics. Oxford
University Press.
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