China lost in Hong Kong

हिंदी गुरुजी December 26, 2019 International 1 comment :

After the split of the Soviet Union in 1991, new power equations were being created in the world. For some years, it seemed as America had established unitary dominance in the world. China is a communist country based on communist ideology. There were only small amount of informations in the world used to come out about China. However by recognizing the time ahead, they opened up their economy for foreign investment. As a result, European industrialists invested heavily there, driven by the market of cheap wages, huge population, the growth rate of China remained more than 10% for almost a decade. China grew financially stronger. At the same time, the demand for democracy of the people was crushed by the communist regime. China continued to strengthen itself economically and strategically.

During the last decade, China had tried to fill the space in the world's balance of power, which was once occupied by the Soviet Union in the days of the Cold War. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia wanted to replace it. President Vladimir Putin also had this will however his economic compulsions could not give him that position. Which was later enthroned by China because they were poised to take its place in world trade through "One Belt-One Road".

After Donald Trump came to power, China began to be challenged by American protectionist policies. Along with America and China, other countries of the world also started to felt the heat of world trade war. Because both economic superpowers were imposing heavy-duties on each other's imports.

Recently, China started getting a challenge in its own home. Hong Kong, which was once a part of China, and in the latter days, Britain had ruled over it for almost 99 years. Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1987 with some conditions. During British rule, the administrative system in Hong Kong was of a different type and the system of communist administration in China was quite unique. During Hong Kong's administrative transfer, the treaty in China and Britain also stipulated that China would not make any changes in the administration of Hong Kong for the next 50 years. China also accepted the principle of "one country-two systems". Hong Kong is a commercial metropolis and the citizens of many countries of the world have established their trade there. They were afraid because inhuman and undemocratic law and policies may be imposed on them as applicable on the mainland of China.

Hong Kong has been turbulent for the past six months. The reason for this is that an extradition bill has been introduced by the Hong Kong administration. In which there is a provision that criminals will be extradited to the mainland of China in some crimes and there will also be a provision for prosecution and punishment in China. The common citizen of Hong Kong understood the intent of this extradition law. Due to this, they became angry and joined the demonstrations against China on the streets of Hong Kong.

China tried to calm these demonstrations by showing fear of its military strength. A "riot control battle exercise" was carried out by military forces in the Chinese city bordering Hong Kong only to instil fear among Hong Kong protesters. An article was published in the Chinese state newspaper that the China government could repeat the incident like Tiananmen Square to deal with riots in Hong Kong. It is well known that in 1989, the Chinese military trampled military tanks on students protesting for democracy. In view of the riots, the administration of Hong Kong withdrew the decision to pass this bill in Parliament. As a result, the Chinese government also had to bow down. The Chinese government is accusing the United States of America and European countries of being behind the protests against the extradition bill.

China stood up with Pakistan in the United Nations on the issue of Article 370. But now China is facing a same challenge in Hong Kong. Along with this, the people of Hong Kong got support from countries like Taiwan as China keeps its eyes on them too. This incident will also give moral strength to other countries near the South China Sea, to which China keeps showing its intensions. China has started coming under pressure due to the global recession. In China, the growth rate is falling and debt is rising.

22-year-old Joshua Wang, who has become the face of protesters in Hong Kong, was arrested by the Hong Kong administration. Which later had to be released under pressure. After his release, Joshua Wang met the foreign minister of Germany during his visit to Germany. This meeting upset the Chinese administration. According to Joshua Wang, demonstrations in Hong Kong is now moving beyond the extradition law to demand more freedom. In such a situation, China's support of the Pakistani move to raise the issue of Kashmir in the United Nations Human Rights Commission is understandable. Because China's record on human rights itself is not good.

China is stuck in the relationship between India and Pakistan. They are supporting Pakistan because "China Pakistan Economic Corridor" passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) on which billions of dollars have been spent by China. On the other hand, trade with India has also reached around $ 70 billion with a huge trade deficit in India. In response, the Indian government may increase the custom duties to discourage imports from China. Due to which the world is facing the trade war and recession. This situation will be difficult for China. As sooner as China understands this, the better it will be. There is a lot of difference between 1962 India and Narendra Modi's India today.