editorial
Written by: Hong Kong 01
2020-08-10 06:00
Last update date: 2020-08-10 06:00In the name of threatening national security, the US government last week asked the Chinese technology network company ByteDance to resell its TikTok overseas version of its Douyin app TikTok in the US to Microsoft, otherwise it would be completely prohibited from operating in the US. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that it would conduct a "Clean Network Program" (Clean Network Program) to restrict Chinese telecommunications companies, block mobile applications and cloud services of Chinese companies, etc.; US President Trump last Thursday (8 June 6) signed an administrative order prohibiting any person or company from trading with TikTok parent company ByteDance and Tencent’s WeChat. Under the logic of the Sino-US struggle, it is not surprising that the TikTok incident occurred. Similar bans and Chinese countermeasures will continue. In the midst of a major change unseen in a century, Hong Kong, which has been caught between China and the West, needs to put aside various preconceived and prejudices, recognize the reality, not only undertake the obligation to maintain national security, but also consider its own development and interests. Only by rationally recognizing this wrestling of the century can we not capsize in the stormy sea.
The United States first blocked ZTE, followed by Huawei, and now TikTok, which is reminiscent of China's "Great Internet Wall", thinking that China has already "blocked" American companies such as Google and Facebook. At this time, the United States' blocking of TikTok was just "a tooth for a tooth." But in fact, China has not "blocked" Google, Facebook and other American companies, but they are unwilling to abide by the rules set by the Chinese government and voluntarily give up or withdraw from the Chinese market. Take Apple’s mobile phone as an example. It has no operating problems in China and has no obstacles because it abides by Chinese laws and puts the data of Chinese customers in China. Apple’s data center is established in China’s Guizhou Province. Many European countries have similar requirements. Countries are aware of the importance of sovereignty to data supervision, largely because they encounter data security issues that China has long been concerned about and are concerned about its threat to sovereign security.
Google actually has a lot of business in China, Android is the system adopted by Chinese mobile phone manufacturers; Microsoft's leading position in the Chinese market is also obvious. These U.S. tech giants are hindered from expanding other businesses in China. The difference lies mainly in how data is managed. Judging by past standards, the Chinese government’s rules may be harsh, but compared with the Trump administration’s naked ban on TikTok, it is far beyond the reach of law and reason. Even the US media have noticed that the two methods are essentially different. The differences should not be confused. When Trump accused TikTok of publishing fake news, he might have forgotten that important American media, including CNN, The New York Times, etc., had been made the same accusations by him over the past three years, but were not pressured or forced to sell their businesses. instruction. In other words, the Trump administration’s targeting of TikTok this time cannot be explained by law or national security. It can only be said to follow political needs. TikTok is a social media tool that is popular among young Americans. The content produced by users is strongly inclined to the Democratic Party. Some famous KOLs have even used TikTok to organize attacks on Trump’s campaign gatherings, leaving Trump with no face. Retaliation in this way is expected.
(Reuters)
Hong Kong "carries original sin" and has no room for "neutrality"
ByteDance launched a global social media service through the acquisition of Musical.ly. The latter has been operating in compliance with regulations in the US market. After the business merger, it became the TikTok international version of Douyin. TikTok realized early on what it meant to be a Chinese-backed company under the contradictions between China and the United States, so it complied with all the laws and requirements of the United States. In order to avoid becoming a target of American attack, TikTok even plans to move the company headquarters to London, England.
Although TikTok can be said to be responsive to the demands of the United States, the United States still throws out "unnecessary" charges of wantonly blockade, accusing it of spreading false news and threatening national security. It can be seen that the struggle between China and the United States is upgraded to another level, which is like a non-armed war, and Trump's fight for re-election to reverse his disadvantages has reached the point where he does not hesitate to abandon reason and rationality, attempting to suppress China's transfer of voters against his inability to fight the epidemic and the economy. Depressed sight. Secondly, for the United States, Chinese companies inherently have the "original sin". No matter how much cooperation and concessions are made, in the end, as long as the US authorities have an executive order, they can force the sale. The result is likely to discourage many Chinese people and companies who originally hoped to make a big splash in the United States, with clearer barriers in science and commerce or commerce.
The U.S. offensive against China in all aspects is an important landmark event of the new type of Cold War under Sino-U.S. struggle. It is likely to last for more than ten years and will profoundly reshape the world order after World War II. The U.S. brutally suppressed Chinese companies on the TikTok issue. Trump once even threatened that Microsoft and ByteDance would pay "intermediary fees" to Washington after reaching a deal. This shows that the U.S. political offensive will be more brutal and deviant.
TikTok’s issue does not seem to have much to do with Hong Kong, but when companies like TikTok are blocked, is Hong Kong, as a part of the Chinese entity, have room to remain "neutral" in this Sino-US century struggle? The warning brought to Hong Kong by the ban of TikTok is that Hong Kong cannot ignore the reality of being a part of China. For American politicians who are deeply trapped in McCarthyism, Hong Kong is "original sin", and the concern mentioned in the mouth is only for convenience. Using Hong Kong as a pawn against China, some people hope that Hong Kong belongs to the Western camp and it may be a naive idea to stay outside. However, Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" is China's advantage in integrating with the world. This is the foundation for Hong Kong's survival and development.
Not only is it impossible for Hong Kong to be separated from the "parent company" like TikTok, even if Hong Kong tries its best to meet the various requirements of the United States, it may be difficult to distinguish the "original sin" of being a part of China. Half a month ago, Pompeo plausibly declared in the so-called "New Iron Curtain Speech" that he hoped that the Chinese people would stand together with the United States against the CCP. The U.S. diplomatic system has consciously separated the "CCP" from "China," and naturally hopes that it will not be an enemy of China politically, and declares that it is only targeting the "CCP" enemy. However, listening to what he says must also watch what he does. The US's actions on TikTok made this political operation appear to be just rhetoric. Some Hong Kong people remember that the United States said it would "go with Hong Kong", but the actual development is that the United States has already arranged to no longer recognize Hong Kong’s special status and regard Hong Kong as other mainland cities in terms of technology export and asset flow. During the crackdown, he even focused on the Hong Kong stock market recently. Trump threatened to snatch securities transactions from Hong Kong. You can imagine the purpose and standards. The two centuries-old powers of China and the United States have fought, and Hong Kong, which is at the forefront, has been drawn into the whirlpool, regardless of whether it wishes or not. Hong Kong people cannot naively think that Hong Kong can stand alone or even deceive themselves, imagining that Hong Kong is a member of the Western camp to fight against. Mighty"—this kind of naive and extremely naive idea will only laugh generously.
In mid-October last year, a Hong Kong public gathered to demand that the United States pass the Hong Kong Bill of Rights as soon as possible. (Profile image/Getty Images)
Exerting the strengths of the "two systems" is the true "international line"
The protesters in Hong Kong have always emphasized the "international line" and even boasted that the US government is "helping" Hong Kong. This is either self-deception or too arrogant. In reality, Hong Kong is only a pawn for the United States to suppress China to match its discourse on "defending" democracy and freedom. If this argument is credible, how can the Hong Kong protesters explain that when Saudi Arabia instructed agents to torture "Washington Post" columnist Kashuji, the United States turned a blind eye to it? I believe that anyone with humane care will not agree with this kind of killing, let alone think that Saudi Arabia is a democratic and free country? A series of incidents such as the banning of TikTok and the "Net Net" can only reflect that the United States has completely lost the neurotic character of the superpower's self-confidence, and is a sign of the return of McCarthyism.
This brutal act of stifling the value of freedom that it promotes in the name of "freedom" makes people more clearly see the hypocrisy of American politicians and hope that they will have an objective and reasonable evaluation of Hong Kong. It became the material for them to attack China, and they didn't care about the life or death of Hong Kong people. Political activities that blindly manipulate the "international route" will do nothing but harm to Hong Kong. Even if you want to make an "international route," you must figure out the target. As an economic city, Hong Kong can discuss any business cooperation with major global companies. This is the "international route" that Hong Kong people should value. Although the Sino-U.S. struggle has added a lot of uncertainty to Hong Kong, Hong Kong is still the gateway between China and the world. It should give full play to the strengths of the "two systems" and link domestic and foreign economic development and cultural exchanges. This is Hong Kong's true "international route". ".
Talking about McCarthyism in the United States is just like Pompeo’s speech last month was regarded as the "New Iron Curtain Declaration," which reminds us of the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union in the last century. Back then, the Western world used the "Iron Curtain" to describe how the Soviet Union formed an isolated system from its satellite countries. The United States is currently eager to build a new iron curtain. This is not only the "iron curtain" of the Internet included in TikTok and "Net Net", it also includes the physical decoupling of Sino-US economic and trade, and it is also between the "free" and "totalitarian" camps. Ideological distinction. As we all know, what the United States hopes to build is an iron curtain that encircles China, but China has already been highly integrated into the world system, and the extreme self-interest of the United States also makes it full of tension with developed European countries, making it difficult for the United States to succeed in its attempts. The United States can of course continue to fantasize about building a new "iron curtain", but Hong Kong people should see the reality clearly, rely on rising countries, look at the world, and look for more opportunities for Hong Kong's development. This is the result of a great struggle between China and the United States. Hong Kong's way of survival.
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