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Letters | What the Philippines can learn about China from the Hong Kong protests

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping wave to the media following a ceremony at Malacanang Palace in Manila on November 20, 2018. Photo: AP
Any student of politics would know that the ultimate aim of the Communist Party of China is to maintain stability and ensure its own survival while leading the country. China would have thought, having appointed Hong Kong’s leader, that it has the territory under control. Apparently, this was not enough.
The protests in Hong Kong that turned violent recently have captured international attention, including in the Philippines, given that Hong Kong is just a plane ride away and a popular travel destination among Filipinos.
The Communist Party cannot afford this drama when it is promoting a shared destiny in the region under its Belt and Road Initiative. The protests cause China to lose face before the international community, giving the impression to its partners abroad that it cannot handle events in its own backyard.

The protests in Hong Kong highlight China’s internal problems and the way it conducts itself politically. It is viewed as anti-democracy; even a territory that shares a similar race and, to some extent, culture insists on its difference from the mainland.

I hope the Philippine government, which has been actively working with China, will exercise caution. If Hong Kong’s eyes are open to what the Chinese government can do, we cannot afford to close ours.
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