Hong Kong Protests: The Chinese Communist Party in the Modern Age

(The Economist (1))

Even as the protests in Hong Kong edge into their 19th day no resolution or compromise can be seen from either side of the conflict. Protestors are seeking a return to the previously instated democracy which was removed with the imposition of a system which grants the control of elections to officials heavily sided with China's Communist Party. The protests themselves have been relatively nonviolent, however as tensions have mounted so have the efforts of police and government officials to contain the public dissatisfaction brewing in Hong Kong. Methods such as negotiating with wealthy Hong Kong residents and shaming the protestors in the media as well as isolating an uneasy Hong Kong from the rest of mainland China have all been used by the Communist Party in order to maintain control over the city and its interactions with the outside world (1). However, the protestors are far from being silenced, and pressure is building over the city, both within China and in the international community.

As you may know China has a history of covering up dissonance not only with media blackouts but with violence. The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests also began as a plea for citizen representation in a largely authoritarian nation, and ended in casualties estimated to be between 241 to 2,600 (2). This violent reaction to peaceful protests spawned international outrage, with economic and arms embargoes stemming from both the E.U. and the U.S.A. (2). Fear of a repeated incident is well justified as cases of police violence against protestors are becoming more and more common in Hong Kong (3) and the Chinese government grows more desperate for a cure to the civil disobedience found in the city. China, possessing the world's now fastest growing economy, may or may not suffer from possible the possible sanctions which would be imposed if there were to be a government crackdown. Additionally, as we have seen in the Ukraine where economic sanctions imposed by Western nations have had little effect on a Russian invasion, international condemnation and sanctions may not be capable of inhibiting a powerful nation's actions. Do you believe that violent action could be a potential outcome of these protests? Or do you prescribe to the belief that an internationally conscious and modernized Communist Party in China will react differently to this situation than it has in previous decades? If violence does occur, will condemnations and sanctions be enough to effectively inhibit further violence and crackdown? Will more jurassic measures be necessary to protect the citizens of Hong Kong?

- Stephen Schick