Can the United States organize the "China Siege Network"?

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Written by: Review Editor

2020-06-01 16:20

The Central Government announced the "Hong Kong version of the National Security Law" on the 21st of last month, which has attracted international attention. The United States has publicized in advance that it will have "strong" sanctions against Hong Kong, and has also called on other countries to join in the sanctions and punish China. The market is worried that Hong Kong will be subject to strong sanctions for retaliation. The Hang Seng Index fell more than 1,300 points the next day after the announcement, hitting the largest single-day decline in recent years. After the National People's Congress formally passed the "National Security Law" last Thursday (28th), the world held their breath and waited for the situation to develop, observing what measures countries would take against Hong Kong and China. However, after the end of a weekend, apart from the US announced some measures that were already expected, countries did not "follow the team." As "01 Opinion" previously pointed out, the United States called on the "Hong Kong Card" to call on all countries and allies to contain China, and its specific effect will become the expression of various countries' wrestling with China. However, the United States seems to lack the ability to call for a "siege network" to contain China.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong is involved in the vortex of Sino-American wrestling. The first to be injured in the face of various sanctions is necessarily Hong Kong and Hong Kong people. This is the result of the government's inability to cope with social problems, and the consequences of some politicians pulling the United States into their game with the central government regardless of the consequences. Even if some politicians begin to regret or even write to the United States to ask not to cancel Hong Kong’s special status, it is probably too late to help.

On the afternoon of May 29th local time, Trump announced a new policy on China: sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who weaken Hong Kong’s autonomy; special treatment for Hong Kong will be cancelled; Hong Kong will no longer be regarded as an independent customs territory; extradition agreement between Hong Kong and the United States will be suspended, Also review export and visa arrangements, etc.; cancel Chinese graduate visas that have "direct links with the Chinese military"; review the State Council’s travel warnings for Hong Kong; and study prohibiting Chinese companies from listing in the United States. (Associated Press)

German stance differs from beauty

Judging from the larger chess game, although Hong Kong is canceled its special status by the United States, some people who are "labeled" by the United States for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy will be sanctioned, but from the current trend, that's all. This will inevitably hurt Hong Kong's development, but the intensity of the measures is finally within expectations. After the Hong Kong stock market opened on Monday (June 1), it also rebounded sharply to recover some of its lost ground last week. In addition to the expectations of the United States itself, it is more important that no country follows the pace of the United States and specifically imposes sanctions on Hong Kong or China on the issue of Hong Kong.

The most responsive United Kingdom said that it would extend the BNO visa exemption period and allow holders to work in the UK to open up immigration channels, but also cautiously did not play a sanction card. There are Canada and Australia participating in the United States Joint Statement on Hong Kong, of which Canada has no specific measures so far, and Australia has indicated that it will not delay the "sanctions". On the other side, although the EU has expressed concern for the Hong Kong issue, only one member state supports sanctions, so it can be expected and will not take action. China has clearly stated on many occasions that the "Hong Kong issue is China's internal affairs and no foreign interference is allowed" as its bottom line. From this we can see that these developed countries traditionally defined as "Western society", in fact, no country is willing to follow the United States to challenge China's bottom line.

The United States is no longer able to unite the "West" as a political alliance. This time the Hong Kong issue is just one example. Among them, the split between the United States and Europe is more likely to be the largest "great diversion" in the "Western" world in recent years. Amidst the controversy over the Hong Kong issue, Germany again made a very heavy statement. Last Wednesday (27th), German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned China several times in his speech, emphasizing that Germany-China relations are the focus of diplomacy. He also said that Germany will be a priority when Germany takes the rotating chairmanship of the European Council in the second half of the year. Germany and the United States have shown signs of "diversion" on a number of issues. The American news website Politico arrived in a report on May 29. US President Trump and Merkel are in relations with China and the Beixi No. 2 natural gas pipeline. There was serious disagreement. More importantly, Germany intends to promote the relationship between the EU and China when it is the chairman of the EU. It also said that Germany may lead the whole of Europe to China.

May 27), German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned China several times in his speech, emphasizing that Germany-China relations are the focus of diplomacy.

Many countries in the EU have clearly moved closer to China. For example, many countries in Central and Eastern Europe have relations with China under the "16+1" cooperation framework, and some future EU members such as Serbia have also reached a "brotherhood" relationship with China; even Italy, a G7 member, has also participated in China’s The “Belt and Road” initiative has established good relations with China during the new crown epidemic. Germany now adds another foot, even if European countries such as France and Sweden are very vigilant against China, it is estimated that it is difficult to change the attitude of the entire EU. According to the announcement of the Ministry of Commerce of China on May 29, China and the EU have made positive progress in the 29th round of investment agreement negotiations, which undoubtedly confirms this idea.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on May 29 that China and the EU have made positive progress in the 29th round of investment agreement negotiations.

Of course, the United States will continue to use all its means to call on more "ally" to contain China. But the United States, in addition to constantly demonstrating the plausible "horror" psychology of the Chinese threat theory, is difficult to persuade others to work together in a practical way. Under the more and more obvious wrestling between China and the United States, the "Western" differences between the United States and Europe are clearly good news for China.

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