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The protests that began nearly four years ago in Hong Kong have all but died out. China, however, has gained power and influence in the region with its National Security Law and aggression toward Taiwan.
“Throughout this century, Beijing has tried to impose stiffer and stiffer controls over Hong Kong. And throughout this century, the people of Hong Kong have resisted,” China expert Gordon Chang said.
Demonstrations began in 2019 to protest legislation that would allow criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. The Fugitives Offenders Ordinance Bill would have allowed people, including foreigners, to have their cases heard in courts controlled by the Communist Party.
“The protests that followed the extradition bill in 2019 were a watershed,” Chang said.
UYGHUR STUDENT DID NOT GO MISSING IN HONG KONG AFTER BEING INTERROGATED AT AIRPORT, RIGHTS GROUP SAYS
Jimmy and Sebastien Lai have been victims of the Chinese National Security Law, which is used to jail people who participate in pro-democracy protests. (Fox News)
By summer of 2019, the unrest made headlines around the world. Millions took to the streets to protests China’s actions. Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam eventually suspended the extradition bill. Protests continued calling for her to step down as Beijing pushed ahead with a new idea to quell the protesters in the name of national security.
“China’s national security law, which was imposed on Hong Kong in the middle of 2020, has rightly been called the end of law,” Chang said. “That legislation is so vague, it gives Beijing the power to do whatever it wants, and Beijing has fully implemented that law in ways that have ended freedom in Hong Kong.”
Protesters chant slogans during a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020, on the 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China. (Dale de la Rey/AFP via Getty Images)
The National Security Law took effect just before midnight on the eve of…
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