In a recent TV interview, Hong Kong leader CY Leung said that the recent protests in his country were "not entirely a domestic movement, as external forces are involved". Mr. Leung did not give any further details such as names of countries he suspects are playing a role in the movement. These statements are in agreement with those last week made by the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper which ran an article accusing the US of being involved in the protests. The leaders of the protest have denied these claims and many analysts believe that Mr. Leung's comments were more of a warning to foreign government action rather than a response. While the number of protesters has decreased in recent days, this movement is still very much ongoing.
With the United States poor track record of involvement in foreign conflict in recent years, I am doubtful that the US, or any other western power, would want to get involved in this conflict especially because it could risk damaging an economic relationship with China. Though the implications of foreign involvement would be huge, it is most likely that Mr. Leung's comments were simply to try to warn foreign powers or disrupt protester moral and call into question this "grassroots" movement.
What do you think the likelihood of foreign involvement is in these protests? In the future?
How much longer will these protests continue?
Will the Chinese Government or the protesters be the first to concede?
1 comment:
Unfortunately the likelihood is that foreign governments will not get involved. Nobody wants to get involved because China has such a big stake in the world market and they do not want the repercussions of upsetting China. The people in Hong Kong are familiar with freedom and I am sure they would like some support, but foreign countries most likely will not help because it may affect their pocket book. We are taught to respect people rights, yet nobody wants to help the people in Hong Kong have the right to elect their leaders. We have helped many other countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan form a democratic government. America and the rest of the world succeeded in tearing down the Berlin Wall and returning East Germany to democracy, so why can’t we do the same thing now?
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