Opinion | Hong Kong is being dragged into the US-China trade war when it should be a bystander

It is hardly surprising that Hong Kong is focused on the protests and unrest that have rocked the city over the past three months. However, there is more to the world than Hong Kong – or Hong Kong and the rest of China – and it would be good for us to look at the bigger picture.

The fact is that Hong Kong’s protests, its internal divisions, and its relationship with Beijing are at least indirectly related to international affairs. In particular, Hong Kong is increasingly playing a role in the relationship between China and the United States.

Two years ago – long before Hong Kong’s extradition bill controversy – US officials began to criticise the trading relationship between their country and China. In the first half of last year, the US started to announce tariffs on certain Chinese goods, and Beijing began to impose tariffs on US products in retaliation.

As a trading economy, Hong Kong is potentially exposed to any disruption in China-US trade flows. But the trade war has become broader in scope, with the two sides arguing over technology, intellectual property and strategic issues. Hong Kong is being dragged into this conflict.

One way this is happening is through calls for the US to review its US-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 – a law that recognises Hong Kong as a trade and economic entity separate from the mainland following 1997.