Adieu Hong Kong? Beijing pulls the rug out from under the ‘one country two systems’ formula

With China’s parliament approving new national security laws for Hong Kong, the ‘one country two systems’ formula that ensured many freedoms for the port city is all but dead. Although details of the laws will be worked upon over the coming weeks, their aim would be to proscribe activities that are interpreted as a threat to China’s security, including separatism and foreign influence in domestic politics. These are grounds on which China regularly targets dissidents. And with the new laws also allowing Chinese national security agencies to operate in Hong Kong, it’s clear that Beijing has had enough of the city’s special status and democratic culture.

Chinese leadership had been losing tolerance for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests and the pandemic provided it a perfect opportunity to strike while the world was distracted. The US has responded by suggesting that the territory will now lose the various economic and trading privileges it currently enjoys. There are also other signs that there will be an exodus of talent and multinational companies from Hong Kong. But the current Chinese leadership is willing to risk this to preserve its authoritarian model.

That in essence is the pathology of Beijing today. From its unilateral aggression in the South China Sea to triggering skirmishes on its border with India, China wants to bully its way up in Asia. Its subversion of international rules is part of the same gameplan. The border confrontations with India are intended to pressure New Delhi into following Beijing’s lead diplomatically and not challenging it on any issue, such as by pushing for a probe into Covid’s origins. New Delhi must remember, however, that Beijing only respects strength; India must not surrender its strategic autonomy or space for diplomatic manoeuvre. Give in today under pressure, and Beijing will demand more tomorrow.