China is proposing a “national security” law that is sparking protests across Hong Kong. Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss what is at stake with this proposed law, how it would effectively nullify the “one country, two systems” model between Hong Kong and China if enacted, how it…
On June 30, China imposed a so-called national security law that sparked protests across Hong Kong. How is this “national security law” impacting Hong Kong’s relationship with the U.S.? As a global financial center, how is this law hampering Hong Kong’s influence? Mike Gonzalez, author of the forthcoming “The Plot to Change America: How Identity Politics…
The following is an edited transcript of an interview with Mike Gonzalez, which appeared in The Daily Signal’s June 11 podcast episode. Daniel Davis: That’s the sound of protesters in Hong Kong clashing with police over the weekend. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Hong Kong to protest what’s called the extradition bill,…
September 4, 1839 Start of the First Opium War between China and Great Britain. Although some historians and figures at the time, including our sixth president John Quincy Adams, believed this war was over free trade, it has always been China’s position that it was unfairly waged over the right to let Britain sell opium…
Since early November, Cody Howdeshell has been in Hong Kong, delivering first aid to protesters. He's seen some of the violence firsthand: Hong Kong police, he says of one incident, "went in and they beat these kids that were already half dead with their nightsticks and began to absolutely tear them out with no mercy,…
Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue as China flexes its muscles and warns of an intervention. Today, we feature an exclusive interview with Alvin Yeung, a politician from Hong Kong who supports the protests and hopes to achieve reforms. Read the interview, posted below, or listen on the podcast: We also cover these stories: A…
President Donald Trump announced July 14 that the U.S. would no longer recognize Hong Kong as autonomous from the People’s Republic of China. This decision was in response to Beijing’s decision in late May to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong, and recognizes that Hong Kong’s autonomy from Beijing has been deteriorating for some…
As the number of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong dwindles, one of the city’s veteran leaders is a key figure in seeking a compromise with the pro-Beijing camp on how to elect a new chief executive. “It is imperative that the Hong Kong government offer some concession–and a significant one–that can convince the die-hards in…
The pro-democracy protests that captured the energy of youth in Hong Kong — and earned sympathy around the world — ended flatly earlier this month, leaving hopes for free elections unsatisfied. But as Hong Kong police moved on a court order to disband the last of the protest camps, extinguishing nearly three months of sit-ins,…
The viability of the “one country, two systems” model in Hong Kong may be in question, says the Congressional-Executive Commission on China in its annually released report to Congress. During the reporting period, the commission documented a number of unnerving trends pointing to the erosion of freedom in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Given…
Until he was the target of tear gas recently during protests, Martin Lee, founding chairman of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong, knew his city only as peaceful. The aggressive actions by Hong Kong police threatened to undo the elegant image of the city. But the student protesters have made it a point to act…
For the second weekend in a row, demonstrators filled the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to protest a major threat to the city’s liberty. In response, Hong Kong has indefinitely suspended the legislation at the heart of the controversy: a bill that would legalize extradition to China. In essence, the bill would give Hong…
As thousands of protestors flood downtown Hong Kong in opposition to Beijing’s efforts to control the political future of the “Special Administration Region,” there is growing concern about how this situation will be resolved. For the people of Hong Kong, the issue is straightforward. Under the terms of the Basic Law, negotiated between the People’s…
Hong Kong’s freedom from Chinese meddling is quickly eroding. Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow—the leaders of the “Umbrella Revolution” student movement, which demanded democracy in Hong Kong in 2014—were sentenced last month to six to eight months in prison by an appeals court. Wong, Chow, and Law were involved in the Occupy movement that…
Students, young professionals, and not-so-young Chinese have now demonstrated in Hong Kong for many weeks, despite the brutal attempts by the government to stop them. The police have used clubs, tear gas, and water cannons—everything but dogs—to silence them. “If we didn’t protest,” one young woman said, “this might become just another Chinese city.” Why…
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told Congress that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous from the People’s Republic of China, which may mean it will no longer receive different legal treatment from the United States. Pompeo’s statement was simply a reflection of reality. The People’s Republic of China is taking away the territory’s autonomy. The…
The system that governs Hong Kong–an autonomous city that belongs to China–is called “one country, two systems.” But before China had a chance to fail to deliver the “two systems” part of that slogan, some Hong Kong residents left for brighter places, fearful of being overshadowed by Beijing’s cloud. A week after Hong Kong erupted…
President Obama may be poisoning the well with his executive action on immigration, but in at least one area there was welcome bipartisan comity in Washington in this post-election week: Hong Kong. Even the president seems to be coming along on this one. On Thursday, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China unveiled House and Senate bills…
Alan Leong, a leading pro-democracy legislator in Hong Kong, says he believes student protesters who flooded into the city over the past three weeks already have won — even if the government has given them nothing. “The occupy movement was started with a view to draw the attention of Hong Kong’s public for the need…
China’s overreaction to legitimate demands for democracy in Hong Kong, where police are teargasing peaceful protesters asking for universal suffrage, leaves no doubt how the Communist Party sees its future. Regrettably, the Obama administration is saying it will “not take sides.” Beijing’s Communists are making their position clear — they are not interested in sharing…