Gloves are off between China and US with latest arrests
- The real significance of Jimmy Lai’s high-profile arrest is that Washington has virtually declared that he was under its protection
There is a widespread belief within the opposition and anti-government movement that only pressure from the United States, especially tough sanctions, will deter Chinese interference. Sadly, they are terribly wrong; it has achieved the opposite.
And it wasn’t just him. Police also arrested his two sons and his top lieutenants: Next Digital CEO Cheung Kim-hung, chief operating officer and chief financial officer Royston Chow Tat-kuen, chief administrative officer Wong Wai-keung and chief executive of Next Animation Studio Kith Ng Tat-kong. Meanwhile, there is a warrant for the arrest of his long-time American executive assistant Mark Simon, who is believed to be in Taiwan.
In normal times, US pressure may factor into Beijing’s calculations. When Lai recently travelled to Washington, doors opened. Major news outlets offered themselves as unrestricted platforms for him to spread his views on Hong Kong and the mainland, with nary a critical question asked. He is particularly close to the Republican Party establishment and some of its prominent figures.
But now that Washington has practically declared total hostility short of a shooting war on China, all gloves are off – on both sides.