Letters | US being a bully over South China Sea and Hong Kong security law

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A courier company employee removes a box from the Chinese consulate in Houston on July 23. China said “malicious slander” was behind an order by the US government to close its consulate in the Texan city. Photo: AP

Published: 5:55am, 27 Jul 2020Updated: 5:55am, 27 Jul 2020

Reading the reports of the last few days, it seems the United States is doing everything possible to antagonise China: the favoured locations being the South China Sea and Hong Kong (“US issues direct challenge to Beijing’s South China Sea claims”, July 14).

The deliberate dual-carrier exercise(s) in the South China Sea; the massive sale of advanced arms to Taiwan; the advocacy of war should China try to take back Taiwan by force; the passing of legislation to undermine Hong Kong’s economic standing; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo openly calling for an alliance to deal with aggressive or troublesome China and also meeting with a high-profile activist who has quit Hong Kong, the list goes on.

All this comes in the wake of China’s enactment of the new national security law for Hong Kong, which appears to have given the West carte blanche to push Beijing into a corner, all the while hoping, perhaps wanting, for the first shot to be fired so they can blame China for starting the conflict.

Typical tactics used by bullies – somewhat reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s tactics many decades ago. Should this diabolical plan play out, no one will win.

In this day and age, must we still suffer bullies?

James A Elms, Mid-Levels East

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | US being a bully over South China Sea and Hong Kong security law

Letters | US being a bully over South China Sea and Hong Kong security law