Latest from Alex Lo
The real significance of Jimmy Lai’s high-profile arrest is that Washington has virtually declared that he was under its protection
The real significance of Jimmy Lai’s high-profile arrest is that Washington has virtually declared that he was under its protection
China has always had a strong state but weak society, argues political theorist Francis Fukuyama, whereas in India, it’s the other way around
China has always had a strong state but weak society, argues political theorist Francis Fukuyama, whereas in India, it’s the other way around
By provoking Beijing and Washington to interfere, the city and its people are all paying a steep price
By provoking Beijing and Washington to interfere, the city and its people are all paying a steep price
Oswald Spengler may have the answer, which may be more right today than when he first published his famed work a century ago.
Oswald Spengler may have the answer, which may be more right today than when he first published his famed work a century ago.
Appealing to self-evidence is no royal road to truth, rather it can lead us astray, into falsehood.
Appealing to self-evidence is no royal road to truth, rather it can lead us astray, into falsehood.
It doesn’t exist, unless we turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It doesn’t exist, unless we turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
A fully developed and industrialised country – with its people and state sharing the same or similar goals, aspirations and values in rational self-interest – is how Hegel describes the end point of political development, a state that is more or less harmonised, and free of radical polarisation.
A fully developed and industrialised country – with its people and state sharing the same or similar goals, aspirations and values in rational self-interest – is how Hegel describes the end point of political development, a state that is more or less harmonised, and free of radical polarisation.
If China is a bad actor in the South China Sea, Britain and the US may be acting much worse in the Indian Ocean, so how about a quid pro quo to get everyone to behave for the sake of world peace?
If China is a bad actor in the South China Sea, Britain and the US may be acting much worse in the Indian Ocean, so how about a quid pro quo to get everyone to behave for the sake of world peace?
American politicians should realise they have zero to negative moral authority to tell other people how to run elections, governments and police, given the disgraceful state of their own governance
American politicians should realise they have zero to negative moral authority to tell other people how to run elections, governments and police, given the disgraceful state of their own governance
An open letter to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR.
An open letter to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR.
Such diverse groups necessarily have very different political priorities and sympathies, leading to misreading by self-centred Washington and Beijing.
Such diverse groups necessarily have very different political priorities and sympathies, leading to misreading by self-centred Washington and Beijing.
His teaching of civil disobedience is perfectly justified but his firing is not about academic interference, rather it’s the fact that he has been criminally convicted.
His teaching of civil disobedience is perfectly justified but his firing is not about academic interference, rather it’s the fact that he has been criminally convicted.
Manila and Beijing want to normalise relations, but Washington is standing in the way
Manila and Beijing want to normalise relations, but Washington is standing in the way
Mutual engagement between China and the US remains the only sane option today, something that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is dangerously trying to undermine
Mutual engagement between China and the US remains the only sane option today, something that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is dangerously trying to undermine
American politicians, now on a new anti-communist crusade, may not like the ending of the story
American politicians, now on a new anti-communist crusade, may not like the ending of the story
Targeting US mission in the city would be a major escalation while China prefers to show restraint and not play into the hands of an increasingly hostile Washington
Targeting US mission in the city would be a major escalation while China prefers to show restraint and not play into the hands of an increasingly hostile Washington
His principal policy and planning adviser on China, Miles Maochun Yu, harbours some pretty dark thoughts about China and Asia-Pacific.
His principal policy and planning adviser on China, Miles Maochun Yu, harbours some pretty dark thoughts about China and Asia-Pacific.
Post-Brexit, the UK will have no support from the European Union as a middle power while China, once its best trading prospect, has become an adversary.
Post-Brexit, the UK will have no support from the European Union as a middle power while China, once its best trading prospect, has become an adversary.
The way some American politicians describe the harmless social app, you would think it’s more dangerous than Huawei, the 5G networks supplier, and nuclear weapons
The way some American politicians describe the harmless social app, you would think it’s more dangerous than Huawei, the 5G networks supplier, and nuclear weapons
Most Chinese today don’t suffer from the same repression and material deprivation of those who lived in the Soviet Union; some may even think they will win in their country’s confrontation with the West
Most Chinese today don’t suffer from the same repression and material deprivation of those who lived in the Soviet Union; some may even think they will win in their country’s confrontation with the West
You are free to hate and despise China all you want, but if you think it will collapse by its own weight because its government lacks legitimacy or popular support, you will always be surprised and never understand your enemy
You are free to hate and despise China all you want, but if you think it will collapse by its own weight because its government lacks legitimacy or popular support, you will always be surprised and never understand your enemy
People in the city now face the choice of a paralysed legislature or a discredited one.
People in the city now face the choice of a paralysed legislature or a discredited one.
What is perhaps most damaging is that America wants to drag its allies and friends into its fight with China, without defining or understanding what it is they want
What is perhaps most damaging is that America wants to drag its allies and friends into its fight with China, without defining or understanding what it is they want
The opposition have got more than they bargained for, now that US President Donald Trump has stripped the city of its special trade status to treat it the same as the mainland.
The opposition have got more than they bargained for, now that US President Donald Trump has stripped the city of its special trade status to treat it the same as the mainland.
The good news for the opposition is that the government may be preparing for their majority in the new legislature for the first time in Hong Kong history; the bad news is that if they try to exploit Article 52 of the Basic Law to get rid of her, she will retaliate with the national security law.
The good news for the opposition is that the government may be preparing for their majority in the new legislature for the first time in Hong Kong history; the bad news is that if they try to exploit Article 52 of the Basic Law to get rid of her, she will retaliate with the national security law.
Despite large turnouts, ‘loser’ candidates, especially those with a long track record as lawmakers, are unlikely to accept the results in favour of radicals who face disqualification anyway
Despite large turnouts, ‘loser’ candidates, especially those with a long track record as lawmakers, are unlikely to accept the results in favour of radicals who face disqualification anyway
Americans, Washington is a far greater threat to your own health and life, your wallet and your children’s future than anything we Chinese can do to you
Americans, Washington is a far greater threat to your own health and life, your wallet and your children’s future than anything we Chinese can do to you
In bailing out Cathay Pacific, the government played hard and fast by announcing billions would be taken from its Land Fund, which was in fact empty after all its assets were transferred to a more aggressive investment fund
In bailing out Cathay Pacific, the government played hard and fast by announcing billions would be taken from its Land Fund, which was in fact empty after all its assets were transferred to a more aggressive investment fund
After the Legco elections in September, the government should reintroduce draft laws on a flat vacancy tax, premium taxi services, e-cigarettes and waste disposal that were shelved because of opposition infighting and the pandemic crisis.
After the Legco elections in September, the government should reintroduce draft laws on a flat vacancy tax, premium taxi services, e-cigarettes and waste disposal that were shelved because of opposition infighting and the pandemic crisis.