It is foolhardy for Hong Kong radicals to cheer American intervention
- Donald Trump and the US Congress are hardly concerned about the state of affairs in Hong Kong; passing laws that are supposedly in support of the protest movement is more about domestic agendas in Washington
Hong Kong’s protesters, still celebrating the win of pan-democrats in district council elections, have been further elated by US President Donald Trump’s signing of legislation that puts pressure on the city’s government to maintain standards on democracy and human rights.
They believe the two laws, one with the potential to bring diplomatic action and economic sanctions and the other blocking the sale to police of crowd-control munitions such as tear gas and pepper spray, are a further show of American support for six months of rallies, violence and vandalism.
But they need to temper their revelry; domestic issues, not their cause and well-being, are behind the measures. The impact is psychological and the gesture is largely symbolic.
Trump had little choice but to sign the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Protect Hong Kong Act, which were overwhelmingly approved by Congress last week.
He was also only too aware of the anger his actions would evoke from the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, both claiming interference in their internal affairs and violation of international law, and Beijing vowing to retaliate.