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Hong Kong national security law
OpinionComment
Chi Wang
Chi Wang

Opinion | US sanctions and Hong Kong Autonomy Act are empty gestures that show a failure to understand

  • The sanctions have no real bite and the bill does little other than show commitment to a ‘hard’ policy on China ahead of House elections in November
  • No amount of sanctions, threats or editorials will stand in the way of Beijing protecting its territorial integrity and sovereignty

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Chi Wang

When the controversial new national security law for Hong Kong was announced during China’s National People’s Congress in May, the usual chorus of China hawks in the United States responded in turn with outrage. The US Congress was no different.

Notorious China hawks such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio sharply criticised the proposed bill and vowed to take action. Last week, the US Senate unanimously passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which would place mandatory sanctions on individuals and entities deemed responsible for the degradation of Hong Kong’s autonomy.

And Rubio and New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez introduced a bill to allow asylum for Hong Kong residents deemed at risk under the new security law, including protesters and prominent dissidents.

Over the last year, as Hong Kong has been embroiled in protests, I have watched US Congress members, administration personnel and the media consistently demonstrate their failure to understand Hong Kong. Their rhetoric surrounding the extradition bill, protests and now the national security law suggests that Beijing is attempting a hostile takeover of the island.

02:13

Beijing’s passage of national security law for Hong Kong draws international criticism

Beijing’s passage of national security law for Hong Kong draws international criticism

A New York Post piece began with “Hong Kong can kiss its independence goodbye”, a rumination that fundamentally fails to recognise that Hong Kong was not independent, and that only the most fringe elements of the protests last year were even calling for independence.

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