Cadence of Conflict, Asia, July 8, 2019

China has been had. It has been had by Western freedom. It has been had by its own culture’s psychopathology. It has been had by the concept of a promise—something the Chinese can’t understand, let alone keep. It has been had by Marxist propaganda. And, it is still being had by its obsession with power.

British officials are turning their eyes toward Hong Kong. This is a move of revival in the English-speaking world. The English have a conscience. It is more than political smoke-blowing. Britain fully intends to protect the people of Hong Kong. And, they can do it because China has already reneged on a treaty registered with the United Nations.

China has difficulty understanding the concept of a promise. Living fully and wholly by the psychopathology of Gorgias—that all statements are lies and only rhetoric matters—the Chinese truly believe that their promise to not interfere with Hong Kong until 2047 is irrelevant trivia. They truly believe that if the world distrusts China for breaking treaty, it would be the world just looking for ways to be mean to poor, suffering, victimized China. They truly believe that any “distrust” from the West, citing broken promises, would be pure propaganda from any and all, everywhere on Earth.

The British dealt with China for centuries. They must have at least suspected that China would break treaty. In fair honesty, by allowing a fifty year window, they showed high hopes that China would at least be capable of pretending to have a conscience for half a century. If China could lie to the world for fifty years and conceal its spite for any race lacking Han blood—if China could at least pretend to be nice for fifty years—then perhaps Hong Kong would be safe long after 2047. Britain gave China the benefit of the doubt.

But, China didn’t make it fifty years, not even half that.

Call it temptation. Call it the “Tienanmen fix”. China can’t not oppress and boss and dominate. From Beijing, Hong Kong calls, begging, “Oppress me! Oppress me!”

From Xi Jinping’s perspective is one of power. He believes that the Russian Communist downfall of 1989 happened because the Communists didn’t oppress enough. It never occurs to him that people do not overthrow governments that they trust—but to a psychopath, all statements are lies and all protests are propaganda. People would only hate an oppressive government, so they think, because someone told them to.

Hong Kong knows differently. Though they do not have complete self-rule, they do have free speech, free markets, free press, and free religion. To them, China stinks, and not only from the pollution of mismanagement.

Still, China wants to force its embrace upon the free people of Hong Kong. The legal justice system has a term for criminals who force their love on unwilling victims. In that scenario, everyone knows who everyone is.

Like an alcoholic claiming that alcohol is the medicine, China sees voluntary support as a threat—as a lack of power—and that power is the cure for power resisted. China has been had by everyone, its own vices above all else.

Trade & Tech


Huawei is helping all the UK’s top carriers build their 5G networks // Engadget

China is not the only trading partner targeted by US President Donald Trump’s trade wars – Donald Trump’s America // ABC News Australia

(URGENT) Samsung Electronics Q2 operating profit dips 56.3 pct to W6.5tln // Yonhap News

Global Chip Supply In Jeopardy As New Trade Feud Erupts Between Japan And South Korea // Zero Hedge

Trump move to ease Huawei sanctions sparks anger, confusion // Yahoo News

Wait, What the Hell Is Going on With Huawei Now? // Gizmodo

U.S.-China Trade Deal No More Likely After Truce, Chinese Adviser Says // Bloomberg

DealBook Briefing: Trump Gives Huawei a Breather. Sort of. // NY Times

G20 summit aftermath: Huawei-related stocks surge // CNN

China


Anti-China Bonds Between Hong Kong and Taiwan Are Growing // The Atlantic

China warns Canada not to be naive in thinking allies can fix dispute | Power & Politics // YouTube @ CBC News

China says there will be no trade deal unless existing tariffs are stripped // CNBC

Chinese studios impose informal ban on American actors // Financial Times

Acting Pentagon Chief Criticizes China’s Behavior in Cyber, South China Sea // VOA

China’s Military Closed Off Area Of South China Sea For ‘Anti-Ship’ Missile Tests // Zero Hedge

Pentagon Calls China’s South Sea Missile Test ‘Truly Disturbing’ // Bloomberg

Pentagon: China Missile Test in South China Sea ‘Disturbing’ // VOA

China Snares Tourists’ Phones in Surveillance Dragnet by Adding Secret App // NY Times

Taiwan


Tsai vows to outlaw China ‘surrogates’ // Taipei Times

‘National dignity’ rules passed // Taipei Times

PLA putting pressure on Xi Jinping over Taiwan: CSIS analyst // Taiwan News

China covers up extent of swine fever crisis, neighboring countries concerned // Taiwan News

Taiwan to crack down on unauthorized research collaborations with mainland China // Nature

UPDATE 3-Taiwan president to visit U.S. this month, angering China // Yahoo News

Hong Kong


China looks at Britain and sees only weakness and hypocrisy // Guardian

China crisis: Britain ‘must act’ one Hong Kong chaos – crisis with Beijing looms // Express

China slashes British foreign secretary’s Hong Kong comments // Xinhua News

Hong Kong protesters take message to Chinese tourists // Sunday Times

From the last British governor of HK…
Britain must honour its obligations to the people of Hong Kong // Financial Times

Hong Kong’s anti-extradition law protesters march to China express rail station to ‘spread message to mainlanders’ // HKFP

Explainer: How Hong Kong’s legislature was broken, long before protesters invaded the complex // HKFP

‘Free Hong Kong!’: protesters’ demands widen as rallies continue // Guardian

Hong Kong protests’ anti-extradition bill message to mainland Chinese // CNBC

Pro-democracy protesters rally in Hong Kong’s shopping district // YouTube @ RT

Extradition debacle proves Hong Kong’s government needs a radical shake-up to change the way it thinks and acts // SCMP

China station next target for Hong Kong protesters // CNA

Hong Kong mothers march in support of students who protested against Chinese extradition bill // ABC News Australia

Rights under threat: how China is bringing Hong Kong to heel // Guardian

First charges against Hong Kong anti-government protester // CNA

The Disillusion and Frustration of a New Generation is Fuelling Hong Kong’s Protests // New Yorker

Chinese state media blames ‘Western ideologues’ for Hong Kong protests // CNA

UK summons China ambassador after he slams ‘colonial’ attitude to Hong Kong // CNN

Chinese state media says ‘Western ideologues’ to blame for Hong Kong unrest // Eyewitness News (South Africa)

Hong Kong protests: police make first arrests after storming of parliament // Guardian

Jeremy Hunt refuses to rule out sanctions against China // Guardian

Hong Kong Christians and the Protest Movement | Cardinal Zen // YouTube @ China Uncensored

Hong Kong protests: China tells UK not to interfere in ‘domestic affairs’ // BBC News

Commentary: Hong Kong protests may have crossed the point of no return // CNA

‘Hands off Hong Kong’: China sends warning to Britain // TheJournal.ie

China ambassador tells UK to back off Hong Kong // YouTube @ Sky News

Hong Kong grapples with protest aftermath as China demands criminal probe // ABS-CBN News

The Water Movement: Inside the fight for Hong Kong // Maclean’s

The storming of Hong Kong’s legislature: the inside story of how a plan was hatched on the fly by a small core of young protesters // SCMP

Widespread condemnation for protesters who stormed Hong Kong’s legislature while Carrie Lam vows to pursue those who unleashed chaos ‘to the end’ // SCMP

These photos give you another picture of the parliament storming that is not destruction… #HongKong // Twitter @cheriechancy

Police Crack Down on Un-Independence Day // YouTube @ China Uncensored

I get the feeling Hong Kong will remember this image for a looong time. Via @rthk_enews. #AntiELAB // Twitter @aletweetsnews

They’re in the chamber! Spray painting the walls, unfurling the British-era colonial flag. #AntiELAB // Twitter @aletweetsnews

Still at it…
PHOTOS: Hong Kong protesters take over legislative chambers // Yahoo News

With ‘Tradition of Protest’ chart from 2003…
Riot Police Fire Tear Gas to Clear Protesters in Hong Kong // Yahoo News

With ‘Tradition of Protest’ chart from 2003…
Riot Police Fire Tear Gas to Clear Protesters in Hong Kong // Yahoo News

Riot Police Fire Tear Gas to Clear Protesters in Hong Kong // Yahoo News

Hong Kong protests: Defiant Carrie Lam condemns storming of parliament and vows to take action // Yahoo News

Russia proposes prisoner swap with U.S.: Ifax // Yahoo News

Hong Kong police evict protesters who stormed parliament // BBC News

Keep track…
The Latest: Hong Kong leader condemns protest in legislature // AP

China Vowed to Protect Hong Kong’s Freedoms. Why Are So Many Protesting? // NY Times

Why Many in China Oppose Hong Kong’s Protests // NY Times

Korean Peninsula


Otto Warmbier’s parents file claim for seized North Korean cargo ship as part of $500M judgment against regime // Fox News

Alek Sigley warned against returning to North Korea by Peter Dutton following release from detention // ABC News Australia

Australian student arrives in Japan after detention in North Korea // Sydney Morning Herald

Alek Sigley: North Korea releases detained Australian student // BBC News

South Korea leader says Trump-Kim meeting marked ‘end of hostile relations’ // Fox News

Trump’s North Korean gambit is already a political win // CNN