My Take | Someone please tell Mike Pompeo he is on his way out
- By imposing extra sanctions against a few more Chinese officials over Hong Kong from his lame duck post, the US secretary of state is making himself look powerless and ridiculous
Barking madly when you have no bite threatens no one, but only exposes your weaknesses and infantilities. The outgoing US secretary of state has – let the drums roll – imposed more sanctions against officials in Hong Kong and on the mainland, for “implementing the PRC-imposed national security law and threatening the peace, security, and autonomy of Hong Kong”. Now that’s really going to scare the Chinese and change Beijing’s behaviour.
First, his statement is untrue; and coming from a morally bankrupt administration, it’s actually laughable. Even if it were true, does Pompeo think making it difficult for a few more Chinese officials to get American credit cards makes any difference?
Since the introduction of the law in the summer, Hong Kong’s streets have actually been much calmer, with peace and security restored. Proof? Just look at photos of the mayhem from last year. Hong Kong was never promised autonomy, only “a high degree of autonomy”, which is diplomatic speak for whatever the signatory governments to a treaty, in this case, Britain and China, say it is.
Does Pompeo think he is British, Chinese or British-Chinese?
Sanctions only work with countries with a small economy and underdeveloped financial networks and infrastructure. These can be physically blockaded or isolated from the rest of the global financial system, to cut off their revenue and supply of critical resources. Sadly for Washington, China is not Iran, Cuba or Venezuela. It may already be the world’s largest economy.