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China Hints It Could Send Troops to Quell Hong Kong Protests, if Requested China Hints Its Troops Could Be Used to Quell Hong Kong Protests
(about 1 hour later)
BEIJING — China on Wednesday warned that it would not tolerate protesters’ efforts to threaten the central government’s authority in Hong Kong and suggested that it could, if asked, mobilize troops in the People’s Liberation Army garrison there to maintain order. BEIJING — China delivered its most explicit warning to date on Wednesday that it was prepared to use military force in Hong Kong if protesters there threatened the central government’s authority.
The warning came as the government released a new defense strategy that accused the United States of undermining global stability and identified separatism as China’s most immediate security threat. The warning was a stark reminder of Beijing’s ultimate control over the fate of Hong Kong, which has been convulsed by weeks of protests demanding the preservation of the former British territory’s unique political, economic and culture character within the Chinese Communist system.
In the case of Hong Kong, the chief spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Col. Wu Qian, cited the protests on Sunday outside the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, which protesters painted with graffiti, suggesting that instances of destructive behavior were straining Beijing’s patience. The People’s Liberation Army has for years maintained a garrison of 6,000 soldiers in several bases around Hong Kong but China has never before ordered them to intervene in the territory’s affairs, though several hundred did help clear trees and other debris after Typhoon Mangkhut battered the city in 2018.
“The behavior of some radical protesters challenges the central government’s authority, touching on the bottom line principle of ‘one country, two systems,’” Colonel Wu said during a news conference in Beijing unveiling the new strategy. “That absolutely cannot be tolerated.” Appearing at a Beijing briefing on a government document outlining China’s defense strategy, the chief spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Col. Wu Qian, cited the protests on Sunday outside the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, which protesters splattered with paint and defaced with graffiti, and strongly suggested that instances of destructive behavior were straining Beijing’s patience.
He pointedly cited the specific article in a law detailing relations between the city and Beijing that allows the People’s Liberation Army to intervene, when requested by Hong Kong’s leaders, to maintain order or assist in cases of natural disasters. Responding to a question, he pointedly cited the specific article in a law detailing relations between Hong Kong and the People’s Liberation Army allowing the military to intervene, when requested by Hong Kong’s leaders, to maintain order or assist in cases of natural disasters.
The defense strategy, the first in six years, also refused to rule out the use of force against Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, in the event the self-governing democracy took any formal steps toward independence. “The behavior of some radical protesters challenges the central government’s authority, touching on the bottom line principle of ‘one country, two systems,’” Colonel Wu said, referring to China’s model for governing the territory of 7.4 million. “That absolutely cannot be tolerated.”
[Beijing pledged ‘One country, two systems’ when it took back Hong Kong from the British in 1997. But here’s why concerns over civil liberties are mounting.] The new defense strategy unveiled in the document did not mention Hong Kong, but it identified efforts to divide Chinese territory as the country’s most pressing security threat.
The document criticized “external forces” that support such moves, an oblique but clear reference to the United States, which has long provided support to Taiwan, including a new sale of more than 100 M1A2T Abrams tanks and other weaponry, worth $2.2 billion. The defense strategy also refused to rule out the use of force against Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, in the event the self-governing island took any formal steps toward independence.
The document criticized “external forces” that support such independence moves, an oblique but clear reference to the United States, which has long provided support to Taiwan, including a new sale of more than 100 M1A2T Abrams tanks and other weaponry, worth $2.2 billion.
The warnings about what are, to China, core matters of sovereignty underlined growing concern about threats to the central authority of the Communist Party government under President Xi Jinping, whose pledges never to cede any territory are central to his image as the country’s most powerful leader in decades.The warnings about what are, to China, core matters of sovereignty underlined growing concern about threats to the central authority of the Communist Party government under President Xi Jinping, whose pledges never to cede any territory are central to his image as the country’s most powerful leader in decades.
Hong Kong was not mentioned in the strategy, but Colonel Wu responded to a question about the protests there to warn that China was prepared to act, if needed. Beijing has urged the Hong Kong government and the police to swiftly bring to justice those who stormed the territory’s legislative offices on July 1 and the central government’s liaison office in the city on Sunday, but officials have also expressed confidence in the local authorities’ abilities to handle the situation. The new document on defense strategy — 69 pages in all — offered a detailed window into China’s rising military ambitions under the leadership of Mr. Xi. It accused the United States of undermining global stability and reflected China’s uneasy view of an increasingly uncertain world. It also acknowledged shortcomings still hampering the People’s Liberation Army, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence and what it called “informationized warfare.”
The new defense strategy — 69 pages in all — offered a detailed window into China’s rising military ambitions under the leadership of Mr. Xi. It reflected its uneasy view of an increasingly uncertain world and acknowledged shortcomings still hampering the People’s Liberation Army, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence and what it called “informationized warfare.”
“Greater efforts have to be invested in military modernization to meet national security demands,” the strategy said, noting that Chinese military spending was lower as a percentage of gross domestic product than not only the United States and Russia, but also France and Britain. “The P.L.A. still lags far behind the world’s leading militaries.”“Greater efforts have to be invested in military modernization to meet national security demands,” the strategy said, noting that Chinese military spending was lower as a percentage of gross domestic product than not only the United States and Russia, but also France and Britain. “The P.L.A. still lags far behind the world’s leading militaries.”
Adam Ni, a researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, said the strategy was noteworthy for emphasizing the military’s loyalty to the Communist Party and the primary mission of providing domestic security. The centrality of the party’s role has been a recurring theme Mr. Xi’s statements ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October.Adam Ni, a researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, said the strategy was noteworthy for emphasizing the military’s loyalty to the Communist Party and the primary mission of providing domestic security. The centrality of the party’s role has been a recurring theme Mr. Xi’s statements ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October.
“The white paper makes it clear that maintaining internal security and social stability is the top priority for China’s armed forces,” Mr. Ni wrote in an email. “It is a clear admission that China’s military is oriented internally as much as externally.” The defense strategy “makes it clear that maintaining internal security and social stability is the top priority for China’s armed forces,” Mr. Ni wrote in an email. “It is a clear admission that China’s military is oriented internally as much as externally.”
The paper, whose titled included Mr. Xi’s signature allusions to a “new era,” stopped short of explicitly identifying the United States as an adversary, as the Trump administration did with China (and Russia) in its own national security strategy in 2017. The strategy, with a title that included Mr. Xi’s signature allusions to a “new era,” stopped short of explicitly identifying the United States as an adversary, as the Trump administration did with China (and Russia) in its own national security strategy in 2017.
It did accuse the United States of undermining international stability, however, by acting unilaterally across the globe and by expanding its capabilities in nuclear weaponry, missile defenses, cyberwarfare and in outer space. (President Trump last year ordered the creation of the United States Space Force as a sixth branch of the American military.) It did accuse the United States of acting unilaterally across the globe by expanding American capabilities in nuclear weaponry, missile defenses, cyberwarfare and in outer space. (President Trump last year ordered the creation of the United States Space Force as a sixth branch of the American military.)
“The international security system and order are under attack,” Colonel Wu said. He went on to criticize those who have described growing tensions in the world as a clash of civilization akin to the Cold War.“The international security system and order are under attack,” Colonel Wu said. He went on to criticize those who have described growing tensions in the world as a clash of civilization akin to the Cold War.
The strategy — and the comments of the senior officials — made it clear that China had its own red lines, particularly dealing with anything threatening its territorial sovereignty. China’s defense strategy — and the comments of the senior officials — made clear that China had its own red lines, particularly dealing with anything perceived to threaten territorial sovereignty.
It signaled out, for example, the deployment in South Korea of the American missile defense system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD.It signaled out, for example, the deployment in South Korea of the American missile defense system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD.
Chinese officials have similarly accused the Americans of supporting the protests convulsing Hong Kong and, more broadly, for supporting Taiwan, whose president, Tsai Ing-wen, visited the United States this month. Chinese officials have similarly accused the Americans of supporting the protests convulsing Hong Kong and, more broadly, for supporting Taiwan and its independence-minded president, Tsai Ing-wen, who visited the United States this month.
Although China has long warned Taiwan against steps toward of independence, the language in the new strategy was more detailed and voluminous than in previous ones. The document sharply criticized Ms. Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party for “stepping up efforts to sever the connection with the mainland.” Although China has long warned Taiwan against steps toward independence, the language in the new strategy was more detailed and voluminous than in previous versions. The document sharply criticized Ms. Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party for “stepping up efforts to sever the connection with the mainland.”
“While it does not look like a change in policy, there is definitely more emphasis on Taiwan,” said Drew Thompson, the director of China policy at the Pentagon from 2011 to 2018 and now a research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. “That underscores the fact that Taiwan remains the main focus of P.L.A. modernization efforts.”“While it does not look like a change in policy, there is definitely more emphasis on Taiwan,” said Drew Thompson, the director of China policy at the Pentagon from 2011 to 2018 and now a research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. “That underscores the fact that Taiwan remains the main focus of P.L.A. modernization efforts.”
Regarding Hong Kong, the law Colonel Wu cited took effect when China resumed control of Hong Kong in 1997 and details the activities of the military garrison that was established there soon after. The force, which is now said to have 6,000 troops, is headquartered in a former British military building in Admiralty, near where many of the protests have unfolded. Regarding Hong Kong, the law Colonel Wu cited took effect when China resumed control of Hong Kong in 1997 and details the activities of the military garrison that was established there soon after. The forces there are headquartered in a former British military building in Admiralty, the area where many of the protests have unfolded.
In 2017, on the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, Mr. Xi presided over a military parade that was the largest display of Chinese military force, with 3,000 soldiers in formation hailing their commander in chief. For the most part, however, the troops have largely kept a low profile.
Although the law says the People’s Liberation Army will not interfere in “local affairs,” it allows the authorities in Hong Kong to call on the military in extreme circumstances.Although the law says the People’s Liberation Army will not interfere in “local affairs,” it allows the authorities in Hong Kong to call on the military in extreme circumstances.
The use of force — even a symbolic display of military might — would be an ominous and unpredictable turn in an already volatile situation. China’s state television, which had largely ignored the protests, highlighted the protesters’ vandalism at the liaison office on Sunday, calling it “a humiliation of our country’s dignity.”
Beijing has urged the Hong Kong government and the police to swiftly bring to justice those who stormed the territory’s legislative offices on July 1 and the liaison office on Sunday, but officials have also expressed confidence in the local authorities’ abilities to handle the situation.
The use of force — even a symbolic display of military might on the streets outside government landmarks — would be an ominous and unpredictable turn in an already volatile situation.
Analysts said that the warning of military involvement in Hong Kong could inflame, rather than calm, the underlying grievances driving the protests.Analysts said that the warning of military involvement in Hong Kong could inflame, rather than calm, the underlying grievances driving the protests.
“I think it is likely to backfire and further harden public opinion and concerns about the Communist Party of China at a time with the ‘one country, two systems’ model is being called into question,” Elsa B. Kania, an expert on Chinese military and defense strategy with the Center for a New America Security in Washington, said in an interview.“I think it is likely to backfire and further harden public opinion and concerns about the Communist Party of China at a time with the ‘one country, two systems’ model is being called into question,” Elsa B. Kania, an expert on Chinese military and defense strategy with the Center for a New America Security in Washington, said in an interview.
The protests have already reverberated in Taiwan, which holds a presidential election in January that is, by some measure, boiling down to a referendum on ties with China.The protests have already reverberated in Taiwan, which holds a presidential election in January that is, by some measure, boiling down to a referendum on ties with China.
In Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council responded to the new strategy with a statement condemning the warnings. “The Chinese Communist Party’s provocative behavior not only impacts cross-strait peace,” the statement said, “it also seriously violates the peaceful principles of international law and international relations.”In Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council responded to the new strategy with a statement condemning the warnings. “The Chinese Communist Party’s provocative behavior not only impacts cross-strait peace,” the statement said, “it also seriously violates the peaceful principles of international law and international relations.”
Ms. Kania said China’s hard-line message on Taiwan could also be directed at the United States. Detailing China’s view of the threat in a formal strategy was “intended to demonstrate resolve and a sense of the stakes to the United States.”Ms. Kania said China’s hard-line message on Taiwan could also be directed at the United States. Detailing China’s view of the threat in a formal strategy was “intended to demonstrate resolve and a sense of the stakes to the United States.”