China’s plans for Hong Kong had always been to disrupt its polity and economy. Carrie Lam, China’s puppet in the Special administrative region, perpetrated Hong Kong’s downfall. With the National Security Law, which was passed back in June, Hong Kong’s special status withered away and China had the free hand to do as it pleased until it all backfired.
Four sitting pro-democracy legislators were disqualified with immediate effect, the move was heralded as the end of political opposition in the city and the “death-knell” to Hong Kong’s democratic polity. But in response, instead of putting down with it, the other members of the opposition resigned in protest. This caused a lot of panic even in China and also put the spotlight back on Beijing’s totalitarian measures as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU look to impose severe sanctions.
The United States along with the UK and powerhouses Germany along with the rest of the EU have threatened sanctions on China and criticized it for derogating the democratic principles of the Special Administrative Region.
The UK’s foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that it was a “clear breach” of the Sino-British joint declaration, which was supposed to guarantee Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under a “one country two system” structure.
He further said: “Beijing’s imposition of new rules disqualifying opposition legislators in Hong Kong constitutes a breach of legally binding international commitments.”
“China has once again broken its promises and undermined Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy,” said Raab. “The UK will stand up for the people of Hong Kong, and call out violations of their rights and freedoms. With our international partners, we will hold China to the obligations it freely assumed under international law.”
The move to disqualify pro-democratic legislators in Hong Kong is an evolving pattern to stifle all voices and harass those critical to China’s policies. Thus, the British government is expected to go ahead with the sanctions.
The United States has further criticized China. Under Trump’s administration, The US and China had already been at each other’s throats and now the events unfolding in Hong Kong dramatically as democracy withers away, The United States has threatened fresh sanctions.
The United States slammed China for disqualifying the lawmakers and further added that sanctions will continue to be imposed on “those responsible for extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom”.
NSA advisor Robert C O’Brien criticized Beijing and the CCP for their sanctions and said:
“Beijing’s recent actions disqualifying pro-democracy legislators from Hong Kong’s Legislative Council leave no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has flagrantly violated its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its promises to the people of Hong Kong, including those under the Basic Law.”
TO further add to China’s misery Germany along with the EU criticized Chinese actions and also threatened to impose sanctions. EU’s 27 governments released a statement in support of
Hong Kong’s democratic structure while at the same time, deplored the CCP’s belligerent actions to hurt the democratic sentiments of the people of Hong Kong.
The statement read, “This latest arbitrary decision from Beijing further significantly undermines Hong Kong ‘s autonomy under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, these latest steps constitute a further severe blow to political pluralism and freedom of opinion in Hong Kong.
Beijing’s stock among the major power circles continue to go down. Relations with the EU, the US, and Britain had already reached new lows before the fresh attacks on China regarding Hong Kong.
The Trump administrations had already criticized china’s aggressive expansionist activities and had sanctioned China severely. But the pandemic severely impacted China’s relations with the EU and Britain. Angela Merkel had already changed her stance on China and had called for disinvestment, moreover, she put into effect Germany’s India centered “Indo-pacific” policy. Besides, Boris Johnson had already ended the golden period of UK-China relations in concerns to national security, which was exposed during the pandemic.
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It seems like China’s days of getting away with its totalitarian tactics are over. EU, which once enjoyed good relations with China, is now threatening to impose sanctions, and so is Britain. While China aggressively tries to manipulate security structures at home and away, the fresh collective backlash it has received certifies that it cannot do so freely. Its actions will have repercussions as the world unites to teach it a lesson.
