Conclusion
Hong Kong: today, it remains a sprawling metropolis, but the city’s future is troubled. Recent reforms require candidates running for Hong Kong’s chief executive position to pass the Chinese Communist Party’s screening before they stand for election: a change protestors say will destroy Hong Kong’s democracy. Democratic activists have taken to the streets to protest. In 2014, they numbered hundreds of thousands. Their demonstrations are only going to get more violent as the 2017 elections approach. What are the implications of these protests?
Ultimately, the protests are futile. International powers such as the US or UK (Hong Kong’s former master) will only intervene if the CCP directly cracks down on Hong Kong. Hong Kong is anything but united, however. The mass demonstrations of 2014, where students camped out on Hong Kong’s financial centers and halted the Hong Kong economy turned much of the city’s moderates against them. A slew of increasingly violent protests, such as the 2016 fishball riots (where close to 100 police officers were injured) have turned the city’s police force against democratic activists. With local police and business leaders clashing against students, Beijing has no need to intervene directly. As things stand, it looks like the 2017 elections will proceed, with the newly implemented reforms in place.
Luckily, the recent events of Hong Kong can serve as a stark remainder of the dangers of closer relations with China. When Hong Kong rejoined China in 1997, it was promised autonomy and respect. In the span of 20 years, however, the Chinese Communist Party has reduced the city from a vibrant democracy and the most visited city in the World to just another Chinese city. The fate of Hong Kong should be a lesson to rest of East Asia. Be wary of the growing Chinese power. An economic alliance with Beijing might just lead to an unwanted political union.
The events of the past 5 years represent an unprecedented opportunity for the United States. Never has the East Asian nations, such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines, been so united in fear of China. Allying with these nations can give the US a huge edge over China, and a say over the fate of China when the Chinese Communist Party finally fall from power.
