China is one of the oldest states on our planet. The Chinese created a rich culture, the Chinese invented paper, gunpowder, and more.
In the 19th century, Britain waged shameful wars against China, for which, in a good way, it should repent constantly, just as Germany repents for the Holocaust. The Chinese authorities tried to protect their citizens from opium, and London demanded that British drug dealers be allowed to kill people without hindrance. London won, as a result, in China, the period after that war and before the creation of the PRC is called the "century of shame."
Hong Kong was captured at the same time, in the middle of the XIX century. At the end of the twentieth century, within the framework of the UN Declaration on Decolonization, London returned the territory to Beijing. And for some reason, this return was framed by a number of conditions. Just imagine: someone took your property from you by force, and then, instead of returning and apologizing, puts some conditions there.
Now, it seems, Hong Kong has become a bargaining chip in the US Cold War that has already begun against China.
US Presidential National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said Washington could impose sanctions on China if Beijing uses the national security bill to “capture” Hong Kong. Also, the American official noted: “It is hard to imagine that Hong Kong will be able to remain the financial center of Asia if China seizes it.”
Donald Trump himself also spills threats, albeit not so specific: “We are doing something right now. I think you will find it very interesting, but I will not talk about it now, I will say about it in a couple of days. "
Our foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has already commented on the claims of the Americans: "These statements are permeated with a sense of superiority and a sense of permissiveness." Washington’s statements see “a self-appointed right to give everyone ratings and requirements, and requirements that relate to the satisfaction of American interests,” the Foreign Minister said.
It turns out that Russia at the official level proceeds from the fact that it is impossible to behave this way in international politics. And why, in fact, is impossible? If, as it turns out, someone can.
You can behave like a master, arrogantly and arrogantly pointing to one or another “colleague” or “partner” in his place in the food chain. You can unceremoniously enter the Middle East and destroy states, as happened with Libya. You can hang their leaders publicly, as in Iraq. You can fight for democracy, as in Syria, while frankly not noticing everything that happens in Saudi Arabia.
You can bend even a “civilized” Europe with the help of trade duties, dictate to them a security policy, because - NATO. It can be pointed out that Europe is good and bad, as, for example, in the case of Nord Stream-2.
All this passes without any noticeable resistance. On the contrary, Poland and the Baltic States are passionately asking: more, even more American soldiers, more American tanks, more American missiles.
It is strange to believe that a strong and arrogant “senior comrade”, who considers himself the ruler of the world and openly declares that America should dictate the rules of the world economy, will suddenly become of his own free will a decent gentleman playing according to generally accepted rules. For what? Is he a fool or insane? If everything is possible - why change something?
So there is nothing new in the attitude towards China and Hong Kong. The way the United States behaves does not cause any indignation anymore - this is customary. The most interesting thing is how China will act in response. Something tells us that the issue of establishing order in Hong Kong is a matter of principle and principle for China, especially given the ambitions that China has declared to the whole world. Yes, today we are witnessing a confrontation between two economic giants - the United States and China. The internal stability and manageability of each of these countries in such a formulation of the question is also a matter of principle. And one must think that all possible tools and methods will be used in order to achieve this.
For example, China may well recognize Texas and California as occupied territories in response to the US Congress Bill HR6948, which authorizes President Trump to recognize the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China as a separate independent country. Demand an answer for the genocide of the Indians. Recall centuries of humiliation for emigrants from China, whose attitude in the United States until recently was no better than for blacks or Indians.
And if China succeeds in turning the tide, firmly and clearly pursuing its policy in Hong Kong, in spite of any pressure, the sanctions announced by Trump - “it will be something powerful”, then we will get another unpleasant episode for the American establishment.
After Syria, in which the Americans did not succeed in the blitzkrieg due to the appearance of Russia in the general alignment of forces, this will be a serious blow to the United States as a whole, and to Trump in particular. Which will not add points to either one or the other, given the upcoming elections in America.
This happens: first stumbled, and then entered into a fight with a partner whose strengths were underestimated. An error happened, and everything fell apart. In the case of the United States, an excessive sense of self-superiority and narcissism is added to this. This leads to political myopia and deprives a sober view of things, gives a false sense of unlimited power and limitless possibilities. It is at this moment that the player loses touch with reality, sobriety and begins to lose. And not having time to correct his mistakes in time, sometimes he loses a lot, if not all.
Will Hong Kong become a bone in the throat of the USA? There are many chances for this. In this case, I would like to wish good luck to China. In this match, I am entirely on the side of our eastern neighbor.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.