Cadence of Conflict: Asia, October 7, 2019

Hong Kong has declared independence! On Friday, October 4, thousands peacefully gathered in Ma On Shan at New Hong Kong City Centre and read aloud a manifesto. This manifesto included basic arguments similar to the US Declaration of Independence, along with basic steps for a provisional government until the new government takes over. In the eyes of China, this will be treason, just as the US Declaration of Independence was treason in the eyes of Britain.

There has been no bigger news in almost 200 years. No nation has stood up to a world superpower so great since the American Colonies defied the world-dominating British Empire in 1776. Suspiciously, mainstream news agencies were utterly silent about this all weekend.

The next question is whether Hong Kong will be able to resist China’s military. That question can only be answered by historians who have studied asymmetric warfare, such as the First War of Scottish Independence in 1270, the American Revolutionary War of 1775, or Vietnam’s August Revolution of 1945.

Britain would be wise to help because that might allow the Crown to hold Hong Kong among the Commonwealth afterward. The UN is calling for an investigation into how China has handled the four months of protest, so it would seem that the world is on Hong Kong’s side. But, investigations always follow long after a crime, even against Human Rights, while the people are left to defend themselves until help arrives. Can Hong Kong join the successful revolutionaries of history?

The string of anti-extradition protests began March 31, this year, 190 days ago. The protests have been in a state of ongoing outbreak since June 9. Hong Kongers have lived and fought in unrest in their own home for 120 days straight. They have overpowered a 32,000 troupe police force the entire time. Hong Kongers have thus become formidable and battle-tested with inferior weaponry. The impossible odds—fighting with bamboo sticks against guns—make the typical Jackie Chan movie prophetic. If China’s PLA soldiers think they will have an easy time suppressing Hong Kong, they have news in store. It’s not impossible. Only history will tell.

Unrest turned to turmoil on October 2, when China held its 70th Anniversary parade for the Communist Party. America will soon join Hong Kong’s objection to China in its own way.

In Beijing, showing off the old-news, well-known DF-41 hypersonic, “can-hit-America-in-30-minutes” 10-nuke-warhead missiles was a miscalculation. America is not afraid because we don’t expose the limits of our tech in parades. Most of our most-advanced military tech isn’t known to the general public, which is somewhat how the American people want it to be, kind of. Seeing this flagrant, open threat will motivate the inventors and businesses in the wealthier, higher-tech America to neutralize China’s open threats ASAP. Some are calling it a “Sputnik moment”.

China is a nation that thinks itself to be stronger than it actually is. If it rises to even a quarter of the world domination it hopes, it would be the first time a superpower rose from a nation so ancient. Since Persia, all world superpowers of history rose from new nations built on the encouragement of new ideas, legal limits of government, and rights for citizens. China is not on a quest to defy the world; it is on a quest to defy history. Hong Kong has history on its side.

Great Pacific

China’s military parade heralds ‘war plan’ for US and Taiwan // Nikkei Asian Review

Hong Kong: Beijing must face reasons behind unrest: Ko Wen-je // Taipei Times

Sranger than fiction…
Rumor Has It That North Korea May Help Built Submarines for Taiwan // Yahoo News

Taiwan dollar is a surprise winner from the trade war, Banking & Finance // Business Times

North Korean projectile landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Tokyo says // CNBC

Trade & Tech

The Japan-South Korea Trade War Is Worrying for the World // TIME

China

Silence on Xinjiang and Hong Kong From China’s Allies Speaks Volumes // Foreign Policy

Chaguan – Xi’s embrace of false history and fearsome weapons is worrying // The Economist

Trump told China he’d stay quiet on Hong Kong for trade progress: CNN // Business Insider

Thirteen tons of gold worth £300million and £30billion cash found at home of ‘corrupt’ Chinese mayor who could face the DEATH PENALTY // The Sun

With timeline map
As China fights to win US trade war, modern factories are now its weapon of choice // SCMP

This will affect relations…
San Francisco tour guide charged with carrying U.S. secrets to China // Yahoo News

Bremmer Says U.S.-China Trade War Getting ‘Considerably Worse’ // Yahoo News

‘No force can shake this great nation’: President Xi… // Daily Mail

On eve of China’s 70th anniversary parade, President Xi says nation leads the world // Herald Mail Media

China readies for anniversary, Hong Kong for protest // Yahoo News

Beijing warns US in response to possible investment restrictions // CNBC

But this globalist won’t say why…
China’s 70th anniversary: US technology leadership under threat // CNBC

Long-winded defeatist opinion…
Change will come to China, but not through following western ways // Guardian

Taiwan

Petition demanding Germany open diplomatic relations with Taiwan exceeds threshold // Taiwan News

Xi Jinping reiterates China’s plan to take over Taiwan, touts ‘one country, two systems’ // Taiwan News

Up to two Taiwan allies to switch to China before 2020 elections: NSB // Taiwan News

Hong Kong

A battle for the soul of the city: why violence has spiralled in the Hong Kong protests // Guardian

Hong Kong: Protesters gather in mall to read out declaration forming provisional city government // WION

Hong Kong: Thousands protest as bid to block face mask ban fails // Aljazeera

Beijing will have its revenge on Hong Kong // Financial Times

‘We fear Hong Kong will become just another Chinese city’ // Taiwan News

China brands Hong Kong protests a ‘colour revolution’, experts expect more hardline approach soon, East Asia News & Top Stories // Straits Times

Mainland Chinese fans angered by Houston Rockets manager’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protests // SCMP

U.N. Rights Chief Calls for Probe Into Hong Kong Unrest // TIME

Just the beginning, videos follow…
Attack on JPMorgan banker in Hong Kong sparks outrage in mainland China // SCMP

Oct 4: Hong Kong Independence Day!
Video shows thousands declare interim Hong Kong government // Taiwan News

Hong Kong protests: MTR, banks, supermarkets, and shopping centres all closed as city grinds to halt after another night of violence // SCMP

Hong Kong Independence Declared!
Protesters plan to topple HK government, new manifesto for provisional government recited, senior government officials to be dimissed // DimSum Daily

Traffic at standstill as thousands again take to streets in Hong Kong to protest against anti-mask law // SCMP

Hong Kong protests: Rich chase golden visas as unrest simmers // BBC News

Hong Kong set to enact emergency laws as it struggles to contain violence // Yahoo News

Calls Grow for Hong Kong Curfew, Face Mask Ban as Tensions Rise // Yahoo News

Teenager shot by police in Hong Kong charged with rioting // Irish Times

Hong Kong leader to ban face masks as she activates colonial-era powers // Guardian

Never their fault…
China’s ambassador blames protesters for Hong Kong violence // YouTube @ Sky News

Hong Kong protests: Rubber bullet blinds journalist in one eye // BBC News

Hong Kong: thousands protest over police shooting of teenager // Guardian

Staggering statistics!
Hong Kong Protests Set to Escalate as Shooting Stirs Anger // Yahoo News

‘This means war’: anger and division at school of student shot by HK police // Yahoo News

Sacked Hong Kong Cathay staff decry ‘Cultural Revolution’ purge // HKFP

Hong Kong protests: ‘I can’t say I love China any more’ // BBC News

Starbucks becomes a target in HK // Taipei Times

Hong Kong protests: China could harden stance after 70th National Day // CNBC

Reminder…
China’s PLA doubles troops in Hong Kong ahead of rumored ‘violent attack’ // Taiwan News

OCT 1: China & UK both demand intervention; timeline, videos, photos, Tweets…
Hong Kong protester shot in chest as China National Day demos intensify – as it happened // Guardian

Video, photos…
Hong Kong on lockdown: Police tell public to stay indoors after student, 18, is shot in chest by cop… // Daily Mail

Protestor shot in chest!
Video: Riot Cop Shoots Hong Kong Protester in Chest With Live Round // Summit News

Special Report: China quietly doubles troop levels in Hong Kong, envoys say // Yahoo News

‘I don’t have any hope for my future in Hong Kong’ // BBC News

Korean Peninsula

South Korea’s biggest weapons purchase ever: US-made stealth jets unveiled // USA Today

Military

US tested new missile in the Pacific as China paraded weapons // CNN

China’s Hypersonic Missiles, aka ‘Carrier Killers,’ Are a ‘Holy S**t Moment’ for US Military // Newsweek

Analysis: Advanced new weaponry lets China steal a march on rivals and exposes US Navy in the Pacific // Telegraph (UK)