OxBlog

Thursday, January 01, 2004

# Posted 5:12 PM by Ariel David Adesnik  

MORE ON HONG KONG DEMOCRACY: Prosperity is not enough. They want freedom. Tens of thousands of citizens marched to demand universal suffrage for the executive and legislative elections of 2007-8. (See Patrick's post below for more details.)

This is a cause America should support. A short while ago, I provoked considerable ire by suggesting that the United States not bother supporting Taiwan's pro-independence referendum.

One justification I should've offered for my anti-referendum position was that the US needs to keep its powder dry for more important conflicts -- such as this one. When it comes to Hong Kong, the oligarchs in Beijing can't dodge the issue by whipping up an anti-American nationalist fervor.

Hong Kong is an integral part of China. Whereas widespread hatred of Taiwan ensures the continuing possibility of war, the people of China see no justification for using violence against their fellow citizens in Hong Kong.

As such, the value of a democratic precedent in Hong Kong -- within the PRC -- may be even more effective than that of an offshore precedent on Taiwan. If Hong Kong goes democratic, which city will demand its freedom next? Macao? Guangzhou? Shenzhen?

One Tiannanmen can be crushed. A thousand cannot.
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