Following America’s latest round of sanctions after enacting the Uygur Human Rights Policy Act , under which Washington aims to punish Chinese officials and entities accused of rights abuses against the minority group in Xinjiang, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis told the press that human rights have always been a part of dialogue with Beijing and the West will respond more decisively to China if it continues to move away from the path of openness. Last week, in the toughest ever punitive action, sanctions on 11 current and former officials of mainland China and Hong Kong were imposed by the United States for “implementing Beijing’s policies of suppression” and stifling human rights in the SAR. This is not the first time that great doubts have been raised about China’s human rights and democratic development. But, after Western attempts time and again to lobby China’s ruling party failed to achieve any concrete progress, patience and tolerance seem to have been lost. However, as President Xi Jinping said in 2013: “Socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism. No matter how we reform and open up, we should always adhere to the socialist road with Chinese characteristics”. He added that the belief in Marxism, socialism and communism was the political soul and spiritual prop of communists. Clearly, the expectation that China will reform or transform into a nation that mirrors the West has proved to be wishful thinking. Yet, with Western investment China has experienced dramatic economic growth, accumulating a multi-trillion-dollar fortune to support Deng Xiaoping’s Four Modernisations , which excluded political reform. On the other hand, many still remember George W. Bush’s presidential campaign in 2000 when he said: “Trade with China will promote freedom. Freedom is not easily contained. Once a measure of economic freedom is permitted, a measure of political freedom will follow.” Having benefited from World Trade Organisation membership for decades, China has become much stronger and tougher, able to challenge the West in any sphere. In terms of ideology, China’s “socialism with Chinese characteristics” and the free society system of the West are engaged in a competition in Hong Kong . The first is based on 5,000 years of authoritarianism combined with communist centralised control, while the second is based on the rule of law and universal values such as freedom and human rights. However, given its formidable might, no pressure can shake China in the foreseeable future, and the conflict is likely to continue and escalate. Jacky T.K. Tam, accountancy student, City University of Hong Kong