China's Hong Kong Garrison to Protect the City from Violence and Vandalism

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Months of violence and vandalism in Hong Kong last year  were orchestrated by US dark forces.

Any pretext will do for the US to wage wars on other nations by hot and/or other means — directly by terror-bombing and/or use of proxies, financed and trained to do Washington's bidding.

Last August during US orchestrated violence and vandalism in Hong Kong, commander of the People's Liberation Army's Hong Kong garrison, Chen Daoxiang, warned that PLA forces in the city are prepared to protect and defend it against hostile actions that threaten its stability.

At the time, he noted "a series of extremely violent incidents happening in Hong Kong" — US dirty hands all over them, my comment, not his, adding:

"This has damaged the prosperity and stability of the city, and challenged the rule of law and social order." 

"The incidents have seriously threatened the life and safety of Hong Kong citizens, and violated the bottom line of 'one country, two systems.' "

"This should not be tolerated and we express our strong condemnation."

"We resolutely support the action to maintain Hong Kong's rule of law by the people who love the nation and the city, and we are determined to protect national sovereignty, security, stability and the prosperity of Hong Kong."

If PLA intervention is needed to restore order, actions taken will adhere to the city's Basic Law and Hong Kong Garrison Law, Chen stressed.

China won't let the city be transformed into a US nerve center for undermining the mainland.

In response to China's announced new national security law, Chen expressed support for the measure, saying:

It "will contribute to containing and punishing any attempt to sabotage the national unity or split the country…"

It will "help deter all kinds of secessionist forces and foreign forces attempting to interfere (in China's internal affairs), and demonstrates our resolute will in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

A statement by China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong warned that elements engaged in violence and vandalism, along with dark forces from abroad backing them, "not to underestimate the central government's rock-firm determination to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests and to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and Hong Kong compatriots' fundamental interests."

Without changing China's one country, two systems policy, its new national security law aims to prevent pro-US 5th column elements from controlling Hong Kong and using the city as a platform for undermining mainland development and aims.

US war on China by other means rages, a country the Trump regime considers a "strategic competitor using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbors while militarizing features in the South China Sea (sic)."

Beijing is responding to its hostile agenda. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) said President Xi Jinping is focusing more on domestic over export-led growth.

His "strategic shift" includes preparing for a "worst case scenario."

Xinhua quoted him saying "(f)or  the future, we must treat domestic demand as the starting point and foothold as we accelerate the building of a complete domestic consumption system, and greatly promote innovation in science, technology and other areas."

According to economist Hu Xingdou, he's preparing for possible "decoupling with the United States and even the whole Western world" if East-West hostility reaches boils over.

China seeks self-sufficiency in a changing world, triggered by COVID-19, economic collapse, disrupted international trade and investments, and hostile US actions that aim to undermine its development.

By no means will Beijing close itself off from the outside world it's a major part of for its imports and exports. 

It seeks multilateralism, "openness and inclusiveness," said Xi.

Economist Raymond Yeung believes his strategic shift is over concern that export demand won't recover for several years. 

According to China's official People's Daily broadsheet, Beijing will counter Trump regime sanctions when imposed, including because of its new national security law.

A statement by China's Foreign Ministry said "(i)f the US insists on hurting China's interests, China will definitely take all necessary measures to firmly fight back." 

Last weekend, White House national security advisor Robert O'Brien said the US will likely impose sanctions on China if it enacts its national security law.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson  Zhao Lijian stressed that "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong." 

"Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. What legislation the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region makes, and how and when (it's implemented) are entirely within China's sovereignty." 

"The US has no qualification to point fingers and interfere."

Under core UN Charter and other international law that's also US constitutional law, no nation may interfere in the internal affairs of others for any reasons other than self-defense if attacked.

Even then, the Security Council has sole authority over this issue — not nations on their own, their leadership, legislators or courts.

It's unclear how far the Trump regime may go to challenge China's authority over its own territory.

It's increasingly likely that Beijing will respond appropriately to hostile US actions if and when they occur.

A Final Comment

According to an SCMP article published by Global Research.ca, the US "slapped sanctions on 33 Chinese companies and institutions, putting them on two so-called entity lists as it dials up the hostility during the lowest point in US-China relations in decades."

Clearly, China will respond in its own way at a time of its choosing.

All nations should refuse to tolerate what the scourge of US imperialism is all about.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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