China's strong economy depends on the good will of a handful of governments. Gradually increasing tariffs (or economic sanctions) on Chinese imports in these and other like-minded countries and the EU, if linked to demands for: 1) human rights improvements in #HongKong, ...
... #Xinjiang, and #Tibet; 2) military deescalation in the #SouthChinaSea and #EastChinaSea, the #Korea n peninsula, and #ArunachalPradesh; 3) progression down a truly democratic path for all of China; 4) improved conditions in China for global business; and ...
... 5) a decrease in Chinese industrial and other espionage, could lead to the progress that would make the risky step of an independent and #FreeHongKong a non-option.
But lack of improvement on these and other items makes the #CCP seem inherently untrustworthy, aggressive,...
But lack of improvement on these and other items makes the #CCP seem inherently untrustworthy, aggressive,...
...and/or domineering, and brings into the realm of possibility tougher measures (for example, but not limited to, seeking #HongKong independence with all its attendant risks, whether or not the U.S. and allies seek this through military pressure, ...
... e.g., by increasing the risk of escalation, otherwise known as 'brinkmanship'). The strategy for #HongKong independence need not be US boots on the ground, which would be disadvantageous to US boots given their proximity to core China.
The US strategy on #HongKong should be systemic, targeting China's economy and/or military until it improves human rights and democracy on a number of fronts, including Hong Kong.
The problems in Hong Kong (and in many other parts of the world) are a result of the bigger problem in Beijing, namely a globally powerful government that cannot be distinguished from one that seeks maximum control over individuals and geography both inside and outside China.
The optimal strategy against the CCP's aggression requires not so much addressing the symptoms of the problem, but solving the problem itself.
This systemic strategy is, I think, being very gradually executed globally, albeit slowly due to Chinese political and economic influence in these critical countries and regions.
If this systemic strategy is followed, the #CCP will eventually be forced to acknowledge that #XiJinping is no good for the Party, much less China and the world, and find some way to remove him. That should be an incentive for him to improve China's behavior.
So, advocating for #HongKong independence or universal suffrage is a good start to pressure China more generally on the range of issues where they have violated international norms of democracy, human rights, and territorial integrity.
This petition is one good way to advocate for #HongKong universal suffrage, and more independence from Beijing. As China is a global threat, anyone worldwide should feel free to sign. petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/hong-…
