In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, China is showing muscle. Beijing on Friday presented a "national security" law to try to regain control in Hong Kong, shaken for months by a pro-democracy movement. This text, which aims to repress opponents of central power, immediately aroused great concern in the former British colony and on the diplomatic scene. Because this initiative, which should be validated in the coming days, could sound the death knell for Hong Kong's autonomy.
A complete legal arsenal to take control of repression
The National People's Congress, China's highest legislative body, opened on Friday. But behind the hymns, the smiles and the applause, the communist regime has indeed gone on the offensive against the democratic movement. A priority subject for Party leaders, even before discussions on how to exit the coronavirus pandemic or how to revive the Chinese economy.
One of the first decisions of this National People's Congress was in fact to introduce a law on "national security" in Hong Kong. The text, which includes seven articles, states that it wants to "prevent, stop and punish" in the territory "any act aimed at dividing the country, overthrowing power, organizing and carrying out terrorist activities" or any behavior "seriously endangering security national ".
Clearly: a complete legal arsenal that allows Beijing to directly take control of the repression in Hong Kong, almost a year after the start of the large demonstrations that shook the territory and gave rise to violent clashes with the police.
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Indignation in pro-democracy circles and on the diplomatic scene
In the wake of the presentation of this text, concern spread to the former colony. "It is the most important nuclear weapon ever used by the Chinese Communist Party to destroy Hong Kong," thundered Jimmy Sham, head of the Civic Front for Human Rights, at the origin of the great demonstration which marked, last year, the kickoff of several months of dispute.
The international reactions were of the same tone. The European Union has urged China to respect the autonomy of the territory. The United States has called on Beijing "firmly" to "reconsider its outrageous proposal", which could escalate the tensions already high between the two superpowers.
A law that could revive instability
The autonomy of Hong Kong was however written in stone. At the time of the return of the former British colony to China in 1997, Beijing had promised to respect the principle of a unified country, but with two different political systems. But today the regime is trying to impose the communist system on Hong Kong, in the name of the inalienable unity of China.
The outcome of the vote, which is due to take place on May 28 in parliament, however, is not in doubt, the Assembly being submitted to the Communist Party. A forceps installation which risks relaunching instability in Hong Kong, and could again cause serious unrest.