LettersWhy overseas supporters of Hong Kong protests must be careful to avoid the anti-China tag

The presence of ‘overseas Chinese dissidents’ at rallies around the world does not help Hong Kong’s cause

If the protests are seen as anti-China platforms, finding support within the Chinese government would become impossible

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Demonstrators in Lafayette Square in front of the White House in Washington on August 18 show solidarity with the “Stand With Hong Kong, Power to the People Rally” in Hong Kong. Photo: AP

Published: 6:20am, 24 Aug 2019Updated: 6:20am, 24 Aug 2019

I attended an anti-extradition bill rally at Lafayette Square in Washington on August 18. There was slogan-chanting, singing and an exhibition on the events in Hong Kong over the past months. The peaceful rally attracted hundreds of protesters and passers-by. Unlike similar rallies in other cities that were met by counter-protests, the rally in Washington was undisturbed.

While the rally was largely effective, it was attended by a dozen “overseas Chinese dissidents”, holding a China Democracy Party banner, who voiced their support for the anti-extradition bill movement in Hong Kong, but were also chanting slogans such as “Down with the Communist Party” and “Down with Pig Head Xi”. People waving East Turkestan flags were also spotted at Hongkongers’ protests in Boston.

Any appearance of association with “overseas Chinese dissidents”, including the so-called Chinese democrats or the East Turkestan movement, in Hongkongers’ protests overseas is not helping Hong Kong’s cause.

The protests in Hong Kong, and those in support of them overseas, are aimed at changing the situation in Hong Kong; they are not movements to overthrow the Chinese government. Allowing overseas Chinese dissidents to participate in the protests and chant anti-China slogans will shift the focus of the protests away from what is really at issue: the Hong Kong government’s unwillingness to listen to the people.

Moreover, due to the participation of overseas Chinese dissidents, the protests would be viewed as anti-China platforms. If labelled as such, no one in the Chinese government would ever dare voice support for anything the protesters have demanded.

The extradition bill protesters are up against a powerful government and they need all the allies they can get. But they need to be a bit more selective in choosing their allies – beware of those who are just using the protests to achieve their own political or personal agenda.