Provocative gestures fuel tension, distrust
Pro-independence slogans and banners found on the Chinese University campus are to some people just peaceful expression of opinion. But to the central government and others, they may well have crossed the “red line” against advocating independence
Hong Kong students have increasingly made use of school openings, graduation ceremonies and the like to make political statements. The pro-independence slogans and banners found on the Chinese University campus are the latest examples. They are, to some people, just peaceful expression of opinion, but to the central government and others, they may well have crossed the “red line” against advocating independence.
The incident is not the first of its kind. Pro-independence banners appeared across the city’s higher education institutes on the National Day last year. Provocative and unwise as they are, the gestures are unsurprising, though. They stem from the negative sentiments arising from what some see as an erosion of the city’s high degree of autonomy, the setback over political reform and the unlawful Occupy protests in 2014. The sentiments became even stronger after a court ruled in favour of the government’s bid to throw three former student activists behind bars. In a separate stunt, the university’s student union wrapped a Goddess of Democracy statue with a banner supporting what it called “political prisoners”, referring to the three activists and 13 others jailed for their roles in protests.
There are those who believe there is no need to overreact, saying the banners were just acts of venting anger and frustration over the prevailing political situation. But the university’s response has inevitably fuelled more tension. The management may think that it is only right to act tough on issues related to independence, saying the materials were inconsistent with the university’s position and had breached the law. But if experience is any guide, the bigger the suppression, the stronger the reaction. How to handle future similar incidents must be considered by university leaders.
Beijing is known for being resolute when it comes to issues of sovereignty. In a keynote speech marking the city’s 20th anniversary of reunification with the mainland, President Xi Jinping warned against crossing the red line and undermining “one country”.