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| East Asia |
| China Wants U.S. to Leave Hong Kong Alone |
| 2004-01-11 |
| EFL from Newsday Stung by U.S. calls for more democracy in Hong Kong, China has demanded that the American government "stop interfering" in the territory’s internal affairs, the official news agency said Sunday. Kong Quan, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, was quoted by the Xinhua News Agency as responding to a U.S. State Department spokesman’s comment on Hong Kong’s political development. "Hong Kong affairs (are) an internal issue of China, and the Chinese government firmly opposes any foreign government interference in the affairs of Hong Kong in any form," Xinhua said, paraphrasing Kong. Must have waited to the statement in coordination with Hugo Chavez’ similar whine. It quoted Kong as saying that "Hong Kong’s political structure must develop in a gradual and orderly manner." to keep it from spreading. Last week, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher expressed the United States’ "strong support for democracy through electoral reform and universal suffrage in Hong Kong," saying that would stimulate the territory’s economic development. "Our belief is in democracy," Boucher said at a briefing in Washington. "The Hong Kong people and the Hong Kong government need to start addressing this issue." He said the United States wanted to make sure that the people of Hong Kong "get their choice to design their system that’s appropriate for them." He added: "We care a lot about the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong." Boucher and Armitage get raw treatment on Rantburg, but I beleive that they both signed off on the Wolfowitz/Rumsfeld/Cheney vision statements in the 90’s. That makes them Cabal members in my book. I wish I could join. Pro-democracy protests, some of them quite large, have taken place in Hong Kong since July 1, when 500,000 people marched on the streets against a Beijing-backed national security bill. Activists accuse the territory’s Beijing-appointed leader, Tung Chee-hwa, of undermining efforts at self-government. I read Bush’s message to Taiwan as wait a little while. We are working from another direction. We have seen that China will massacre citizens in places other than Hong Kong. The refrain is a familiar one for both countries. The U.S. government has long called for more democracy in China, both on the mainland and more recently in Hong Kong. China often insists that such comments are an interference in its domestic policies. Surprising that we would continue to poke the dragon while the NK issue remains open. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #4 Strange. China is upset because we TALK about affairs they consider internal. Yet they pore big bucks into our presidential elections. Some of us consider that to be interference in OUR internal affairs. |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-1-11 9:55:09 PM |
| #3 I am hopeful for a coming shake-up, during which some countries like Tibet might sneak free in the confusion. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-1-11 8:17:00 PM |
| #2 Charles: On the money! Taiwan picks up up what HK loses, and China can't afford to crush two golden eggs |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-1-11 4:34:17 PM |
| #1 Surprising that we would continue to poke the dragon while the NK issue remains open. Not at all. Hong Kong is a huge economic center that has been going down hill since China took over. The citizens will start revolting if this trend continues. I think what the Bush Administration is trying to do is make China choose between Hong Kong and Taiwan. In a way we're trying to blackmail China into letting Taiwan go and stop supporting NK. Afterall, if HK were to revolt and ask for our assistance, or even NATO's assistance, China would be in trouble. Not only would we have a foothold right outside of China then, but a HUGE International airport to support our troops. That would be a huge blow to China if a war is declared. Especially since we have the superior Navy, which can guard HK from the mainland. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-1-11 4:21:29 PM |