Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3032201/hong-kong-swords-point-us-foreign-policy
Comment/ Opinion

Hong Kong at the sword’s point of US foreign policy

  • The city has become the target of the vile business that is “American foreign policy” and, as usual, US politicians are only seeing what they want to see
Demonstrators at the US Consulate in Hong Kong on September 8, 2019 calling on America to help in the protests. Photo: Kyodo

“Serious people” in the United States like to use this grand phrase, “American foreign policy”, as if it’s a subject so complex and noble it’s worthy of comparison with quantum mechanics.

In reality, it’s often – though not always – an extremely dirty business conducted by people in suits, who pursue villainous and violent plots and subterfuge to further American interests – which may well not be those of average Americans, but only of the rich and ruling elites – at the expense of other countries and peoples. Every powerful country does this. What is truly exceptional about America, though, is that while they are subverting your government and undermining your society, they claim they are doing it for your own good.

I have studied “American foreign policy” for years; I never thought my people in Hong Kong would one day become the target of this vile business.

As part of their long-time playbook, US politicians are calling all our protesters/rioters democracy activists, decrying the most routine anti-riot police operations and laws as repression and dictatorship, and threatening to legislate laws to punish officials.

They are helping our people to achieve freedom and democracy, a rare and precious gift that only the noblest in backward societies can appreciate and so ally themselves with America against their own people for the higher good.

But you ask, don’t Americans see rioters who have routinely assaulted innocent people; destroyed businesses, crucial public transport systems and infrastructure; set buildings alight and endangered occupants inside; and even attempted to murder police officers?

There are always useful local idiots who can be relied on to give testimonies and tell the world that the police and government are to blame. Of course, the local authorities are responsible. That doesn’t give you carte blanche to destroy your own society!

Oh, those noble freedom fighters of this world! Joshua, Denise, Martin, Anson, Jimmy, the Cardinal, Alan, Alvin, Tanya and Claudia – America can always rely on them to say the right things.

US politicians see what they want to see. A Hong Kong teen shot and injured by police, a first in four months? That’s an atrocity. More than 100 protesters killed by police in Iraq in less than a week, and thousands arrested? Nothing to see here. Move on, people.

To Washington’s disappointment, there is to be no Tiananmen 2.0. As second best, prolonged civil unrest will have to do in Hong Kong.