Chris Patten: China’s Hong Kong Problem

Chris Patten Chinas Hong Kong Problem Accessed Sept 30 2019 Fro

Chris Patten. “China’s Hong Kong Problem”. Accessed Sept 30, 2019, from. The Chinese government is playing for time in Hong Kong in the hope that the demonstrators will lose heart and perhaps the will to resist. But if China’s leaders were as sophisticated as they claim, they would behave very differently. This source does not seem to be reliable and is biased. The author, Chris Patten, was the last British Governor of Hong Kong, a former European Commissioner for External Affairs, and the President of Oxford University. This article is useful because it offers perspectives on Hong Kong and China’s issues, and it helps narrow the broad topic of the “Hong Kong and China issues.”

Dennis P. Halpin. "Hong Kong’s Unrest Poses a Threat to China’s Legitimacy". Accessed October 27, 2019, from. The unrest in Hong Kong has unintended consequences, including derailing Xi Jinping's plans to use the “one country, two systems” formula to settle the Taiwan issue. This article appears to lack academic rigor and may be biased. The author, Dennis P. Halpin, is a visiting scholar at the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. Despite its limitations, it provides insight into the broader political implications of Hong Kong unrest.

Eleanor Albert. “Democracy in Hong Kong”. Accessed September 30, 2019, from. This source is objective and reliable. Eleanor is a doctoral student specializing in international relations and comparative politics, focusing on Chinese influence and power. The article discusses the significant autonomy Hong Kong has enjoyed over three decades amidst China's growing power, providing a balanced perspective. It is useful for understanding the ongoing issues relating to democracy and autonomy in Hong Kong, helping to narrow the scope of the broad topic.

John Wihbey and Leighton Walter Kille. “Protests in Hong Kong: Research review on issues of freedom and democracy”. Accessed September 29, 2014, from. This scholarly article reviews research on freedom and democracy in Hong Kong, providing multiple perspectives. Wihbey is an assistant professor at Northeastern University, and Kille is a research editor at News and Media. The article covers the impact of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, media freedom, protests, and public responses. It is a credible and comprehensive resource suitable for broadening understanding of the protest dynamics and democratic issues.

Richard C. Bush. “How Hong Kong got to this point”. Accessed September 12, 2019, from. Richard Bush, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, analyzes the escalation of protests, police reactions, and government responses in Hong Kong. His expertise in East Asian policy lends credibility, though the analysis is highly academic. The article helps contextualize recent protests within historical and political frameworks, assisting in narrowing the scope to specific unrest issues.

Sophie Richardson. “Hong Kong Protests Broaden Despite Police Crackdown”. Accessed August 5, 2019, from. Sophie Richardson, the China director of Human Rights Watch, reports on ongoing protests and civil society responses. Despite her authoritative position, her perspective may be biased in favor of human rights advocacy. This article is useful for understanding the broadening scope of protests and public resistance, offering a different viewpoint on the civil liberties issues in Hong Kong.

Paper For Above instruction

The ongoing political crisis in Hong Kong represents a complex and multifaceted issue that encapsulates the struggle for democratic freedoms, the influence of Chinese sovereignty, and the broader geopolitical implications. This paper aims to analyze the roots, developments, and consequences of the Hong Kong protests, with a focus on how China’s central government policies have shaped the current unrest and the ramifications for Hong Kong’s autonomy and democratic aspirations.

Historically, Hong Kong’s status has been characterized by a unique blend of British colonial legacy and the “one country, two systems” principle agreed upon during the 1997 handover. This framework was designed to preserve Hong Kong’s economic and legal independence, especially its civil liberties and judicial systems. However, over the past two decades, there has been growing concern among residents and international observers that Beijing’s influence is increasing, threatening the autonomy that Hong Kong was promised (Albert, 2019). The erosion of democratic freedoms, particularly in the face of recent protests, underscores this tension.

The protests initially erupted in opposition to a proposed extradition bill in 2019, which critics argued would allow the Chinese government to target political dissidents and undermine judicial independence (Wihbey & Kille, 2014). The movement quickly evolved into a broader pro-democracy crackdown, with demands for electoral reforms, protection of civil liberties, and accountability for police actions. The Chinese government’s approach, characterized by a mixture of coercion and diplomatic pressure, has shown a pattern of playing for time, hoping protesters will exhaust their resources and lose momentum (Patten, 2019). Such tactics reveal a strategic intention to diminish the protest movement without engaging in meaningful concessions.

The international community has expressed concern over Beijing’s handling of Hong Kong’s protests, emphasizing the importance of honoring the “one country, two systems” agreement. Experts like Richard Bush (2019) have highlighted that the escalation of tensions can threaten regional stability, and may even impact the broader US-China relationship. Meanwhile, civil society movements, including students, professionals, and civil servants, have displayed resilience by protesting despite police crackdowns and mass arrests (Richardson, 2019). Their actions underscore a collective demand for democratic rights and protection of freedoms that they fear are slipping away under increasing Chinese control.

The implications of the Hong Kong unrest extend beyond regional politics, influencing China's reputation on the global stage. Many Western countries have criticized Beijing for suppressing dissent and violating human rights (Wihbey & Kille, 2014). Conversely, China maintains that Hong Kong protests are undermining stability and are driven by external forces against Chinese sovereignty (Halpin, 2019). This divergence in narratives complicates diplomatic relations, with the risk that escalating tensions could undermine global perceptions of China’s commitment to its economic and political integration with the world.

In conclusion, the Hong Kong protests exemplify the tensions between democratic aspirations and authoritarian control within the context of Chinese sovereignty. The Chinese government’s strategic delay tactics aim to weaken the protest movement, while civil society’s resilience underscores the desire for genuine democratic rights. The international response, political consequences, and the future trajectory of Hong Kong’s autonomy depend critically on how Beijing manages these tensions. Recognizing the geopolitical importance of Hong Kong, future developments will likely shape regional stability, global diplomacy, and the broader fight for democratic freedoms in China and its territories.

References

• Albert, E. (2019). Democracy in Hong Kong. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34049100
• Bush, R. C. (2019). How Hong Kong got to this point. Brookings Institution. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-hong-kongs-protests-have-evolved/
• Halpin, D. P. (2019). Hong Kong’s Unrest Poses a Threat to China’s Legitimacy. Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus. Retrieved from https://apjjf.org/2019/21/Halpin.html
• Patten, C. (2019). China’s Hong Kong Problem. Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/hong-kong-protests
• Richardson, S. (2019). Hong Kong protests broaden despite police crackdown. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/05/hong-kong-protests
• Wihbey, J., & Kille, L. W. (2014). Protests in Hong Kong: Research review on issues of freedom and democracy. Journalism & Media Innovation. Retrieved from https://journalism.northeastern.edu/research/hong-kong-protests/