Intention behind U.S. anti-China politicians' push for Hong Kong-related acts: contain China

On Oct. 15, the US House of Representatives passed the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 and the Protect Hong Kong Act. It was the first time since 2004 that US House of Representatives passed a Hong Kong-related bill. China strongly condemned and firmly opposed the US' blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs and gross interference in China's internal affairs.

The US Congress has clamored for the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act for years. This Hong Kong-related bill was initially proposed in the 113th US Congress (2013-2014) when the "Occupy Central" movement occurred in Hong Kong. Since then, the bill of the same name has been proposed in every US Congress, but was never passed, let alone being signed into law by the president. This time, however, the bill was proposed differently. Firstly, the Senate and the House of Representatives coordinated in advance, and they both proposed the same version of the act on June 13 this year, indicating their consensus about the act. Secondly, such key members as US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi projected their voices frequently. Thirdly, when Congress reconvened in September, the act was quickly scheduled for consideration. After its passage by the House of Representatives, the Senate will considerate this act.

In terms of the domestic political situation in the US, issues about China always attract attention. As the contest between China and the US becomes more intense, China's image is becoming negative in the US. US politicians who utilize human rights and freedom as their moral selling-points seized the opportunity to exaggerate matters concerning Hong Kong's ordinance amendment issue this year. When the US House of Representatives voted, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made no secret of her support for the violent protesters in Hong Kong. There certainly were ulterior motives behind those representatives who clamored for the act. Firstly, they could show off their work to voters. Secondly, they could use the Hong Kong issue to put pressure on China when Sino-US relations become sensitive during the trade war. Thirdly, as the US presidential election approaches, they could use any bill as a balance weight on the political scale to benefit themselves and the political party they belong to.

Judging from the contents of the act, proposers and supporters in the US Congress all stood by the Hong Kong rioters and glorified their violent acts. They showed a complete disregard of the damage caused by the violence to the whole community of Hong Kong, and of the concerns of the general public about their daily safety. If there were no local support from Hong Kong opposition factions that claimed not to break up with the violence, and if there were no international support from anti-China forces that frequently spoke out and pressured HKSAR government and Chinese central government, the violence wouldn't be so severe and sustained. Those anti-China politicians who beat the drums and the western media that deliberately distorted the facts can hardly absolve themselves from the blame for the current situation in Hong Kong.

What is the intention of those US anti-China politicians trying to mess up Hong Kong? Since World War II, the US has operated in Hong Kong for decades and developed wide-ranging, convoluted interests there. Currently, around 22,000 US citizens reside in Hong Kong. More than 1,200 US companies operate in Hong Kong, among which 283 are headquartered in Hong Kong, and 443 hold regional offices in the city. In 2017, Hong Kong was the US' 19th largest trading partner, ninth largest merchandise export destination, third largest wine export market and the sixth largest agricultural market. Hong Kong is also a single economy with the largest US trade surplus. In 2017, the US generated a surplus of 32.9 billion dollars from Hong Kong. Some business people are pessimistic about the current situation and even worried about the long-term structural political risks in Hong Kong. Considering such wide interests, it is against the US' interests to mess up Hong Kong completely. However, those US anti-China politicians just want to see China distracted by Hong Kong's continuing troubles, so as to bring the US another bargaining chip with China.

According to their wishful thinking, if the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 were approved by the US Senate and signed into law by the president, it would be a major revision to the Hong Kong Policy Act 1992. There will be more handy "tools" in the "toolbox" of US Hong Kong policies, so the US can use them at any time to threaten and sanction Hong Kong, as well as to "hammer" and contain China.

However, those US anti-China politicians totally underestimated China's strong will in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. China will not swallow the bitter fruit and will not be afraid of a tougher contest. US anti-China politicians will never get what they want.

Contributed by Li Huan for Guangming Daily.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the position of GMW.