This is what security national security for Beijing looks like: frogmarching a media tycoon through his own newsroom, and plain clothes officers rifling through reporters' desks. Our @NewsHour story on Hong Kong and the arrest of @JimmyLaiApple @chowtingagnes:
.@JimmyLaiApple's arrest was designed to silence a Hong Kong media that until now enjoyed freedoms that don’t exist in mainland China, @HKMarkSimon told me. National Security Law is written so vaguely, pro-democracy advocates fear it can be used against any critics, anywhere.
Last week @SecPompeo imposed sanctions on Carrie Lam and 10 other Hong Kong officials. In response Beijing sanctioned 6 Republican lawmakers, 5 NGO heads, including @AmbDMitchell, who told me, "Around the world, Beijing want people to be quiet about what's really happening."
.@AmbDMitchell says CCP trying to silence domestic and international critics, no matter consequences: "They will not accept anything that is remotely right-space or democracy-based in Hong Kong, and keep going until they feel it is squashed entirely."
The fear that Taiwan is next is animating current @SecAzar trip to Taiwan. During visit, @globaltimesnews reported Chinese planes flew toward Taiwan as “clear message.” The clear message being felt in Hong Kong: some activists, residents, even businesspeople considering leaving.
.@HKMarkSimon: "Information is everything. And National Security Law telling the financial community there is certain information we're not going to let you have. Ripple effect is significant. It is not just one more cut in the grain here. This is like an ax chop."
