Until Beijing accepts a free press, crackdown on Hong Kong publishers will continue

Mainland authorities have arrested Hong Kong publisher Yiu Man-tin, also known as Yao Wentian, apparently to stop him from publishing the book, Chinese Godfather: Xi Jinping. All journalists, editors and publishers in Hong Kong have got the message: there are certain words that the mainland authorities dislike, and if you use them, you too may suffer the consequences.

However, suppose we all "behave ourselves", self-censoring to print only what we think the mainland authorities approve of. Would that help appease them? Would they then allow Hong Kong publications entry to the mainland, with access to that huge market?

The answer is definitely "No!"

One of the reasons is that the Hong Kong media (labelled "overseas media") has become one of the usual suspects, to be taken out and blamed when needed. The Chinese authorities have never officially acknowledged that public demonstrations have roots in internal political, economic and social affairs or that they are often the direct outcomes of government policies. From self-immolation protests by Tibetans to demonstrations against the building of a waste incineration plant in Guangdong, the "overseas media" have consistently been accused of playing an "instigating" role. An easy target; not only convenient, but necessary.

In fact, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has a long track record of fighting imaginary enemies. During the 27 years of Mao Zedong's reign, the party made seeking out and destroying the "bourgeois class" top priority in the Leninist state, often from within its own ranks.

Old habits die hard. The institutional impulse to seek out and destroy enemies persists to this day. Last year, the party's propaganda ministry decided to take on Hong Kong publications as one of its top enemies.