The United States is once again selective in caring about rights
- Americans only care about democracy, freedom and human rights when they can be used against enemies, and the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is testament to that
Though it threatens sanctions against mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials for alleged abuses, the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act has been much more effective in emboldening the protest movement and its supporters.
That’s precisely what it is designed to do – to help drive an even bigger wedge between Hong Kong and the rest of the country.
Trump had been sceptical about the law. But in the end, he calculated it was easier to take on the Chinese than the Washington political establishment formed by the Democratic Party and his own Republicans.
US winning the propaganda war in Hong Kong
For those familiar with US foreign/military policy, this has been standard operating procedure: to exploit domestic dissent, instability and violence against adversaries in the guise of human rights, freedom and democracy.
Six months of civil unrest in Hong Kong and not a single protester has been killed by police, despite wild stories, lies and fabrications by the rioters and their supporters. Terms such as double standards and hypocrisy do not even begin to describe the US bill and the outrageous motives behind it as America proves ready to turn Hong Kong into a frontline in its new cold war against China.
It sells billions and billions of dollars worth of military hardware and provides logistical support to Saudi Arabia as Riyadh pursues a merciless, multi-year military campaign in Yemen. And it now encourages Israel to turn illegal Jewish settlements into outright annexation of Palestinian lands.
The “yellow vests” protests in France have lasted longer and are arguably even more violent than those in Hong Kong. But again, Washington doesn’t care.
As impartial students of two centuries of US foreign policy can easily testify, Americans only care about democracy, freedom and human rights when they can be used against enemies. Otherwise, they either don’t care about them or actively subvert them when it comes to helping allies.
