- Pro-democracy lawmakers there, are blasting
a proposed new Chinesenational security law
that outlaws acts ofsecession, subversion,
and treason in Hong Kong, aswell as foreign interference.
The move is seen as a major clamp down
by China's communist party after the
pro-democracy protests in that city.
A small group of protestorsmarched toward China's
central government officein Hong Kong, today.
(protestors shouting)- The rule of law
in Hong King is over becauseof the implementation
of the national security ordinance.
(crowd chattering)- One former pro-democracy
lawmaker said, "They're tryingto ban every organization
"in Hong Kong who dares to speak out
"against the communist party."
Some analysts are saying this would be
the end of Hong Kong, as we know it.
Joining me for some analysison this is Dean Cheng
with the Heritage Foundation.
Dean, thank you so muchfor coming on the show.
So please explain to our viewers
why is the law so controversial?
- Well, the 1997 basic law,the constitution, if you will,
for Hong Kong, said thatHong Kong would be allowed
to essentially administeritself for 50 years
after reversion, so until 2047.
And in fact, there wasan expectation that the
Hong Kong legislative councilwould pass a rule like this.
But now, Beijing hasessentially intervened directly,
and said we're not going towait, we're going to pass
this law here in Beijing whichwill apply to you, Hong Kong.
Effectively, this is sayingHong Kong is no longer
under a one country, two systems approach,
it is now fully integrated into China
despite the fact thatwe are not yet at 2047.
- Let's talk about that real quickly.
Talk about the ramificationsif this law passes
what happens?
- Well in the first place, very clearly
the ability to demonstratefor freedom of expression,
all of these sorts ofthings are going to be
very much in jeopardy.
Even before this, as soon asthe COVID clampdowns began,
the Chinese began toalso arrest organizers
of the various proteststhat have been ongoing
for about the last year, year and a half.
This is a follow-onalready, to a white paper
the National PeoplesConference issued back in 2014
which stated that one country, two systems
really means one country over two systems.
So what this is going to mean is that
freedom of the press,freedom of expression,
freedom of assembly, freedom of protest,
freedom of speech, allof these are going to be
very much in jeopardy.
It also effectivelynullifies the independence
of the Hong Kong judicialsystem which is another
basic part of the 50 years
that we're supposed to be abided by.
- Why do you think Chinadecided to push for this now?
- Well, part of it is thatthe National Peoples Congress,
China's legislature is meeting,
it meets about once ayear, is meeting right now.
Part of it is that withCOVID-19, the world's attention
is turned away from Hong Kong;
it has been focused there.
Part of it is, of course, you won't have
as many protests in HongKong because of COVID-19
and finally, we areseeing a general, broader
cracking down by the Chineseauthorities on dissent
within China as well as HongKong, and what they term
wolf for your diplomats,a much more aggressive,
assertive foreign policystance around the world.
- Yeah, is Taiwan next?
- Taiwan has always been inthe cross-hairs, but Hong Kong,
in many ways, was the canaryin the Taiwan coal mine.
One country, two systemswas applied to Hong Kong,
it has always been what theChinese have also dangled
in front of Taiwan.
The reality is that Chinacracking down on Hong Kong
means that Taiwan has evenless reason to believe
Chinese promises of autonomyand non-interference,
should the two reunify.
- Can the United Statesdo anything to stop
China's march forward in this area,
in this part of the world?
- Well with regards to HongKong, there is discussion now
about whether or notHong Kong investments,
Hong Kong, itself,should be treated simply
as part of China, whichwould clamp down a lot
on everything from investmentsto access to technology.
Throughout East Asia, theregion doesn't want to choose
between the United States and China.
The irony here, is thatChina, more and more
is the one that is forcingcountries to choose.
But we need a robustdefense, we need strong
economic ties to the region,and we need to maintain
our alliances, of whichwe have several key ones
with major partners throughout East Asia.
- Okay, terrific.
We'll have to leave it there.
Thank you so much for coming on the show
for this very importantforeign policy issue
happening in this part of the world.
