UK bluffs over Hong Kong

▶ London tries to retain colonial influence, flip-flops on Huawei

The UK, a country with massive untold interests in Hong Kong and wants to retain its colonial influence in the city as much as possible, is now acting tough against China’s national security law for its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Chinese analysts said on Monday that the actions of the UK are more of a bluff since they can’t harm China, but will only damage itself.

The measures that the UK would take, including phasing out the use of Chinese firm’s technology in its 5G network and offering up to 3 million Hong Kong residents the chance to settle in UK, will cost a huge amount of money and resources for the UK, rather than harm China, experts said.

British Prime Minister Boris

Johnson declared on Wednesday that China’s new national security law for Hong Kong was a “clear and serious breach” of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. It was among the strongest statements he’s made as

UK prime minister

on the matter, Bloomberg reported.

Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming said Monday at a press conference that China’s national security legislation for the HKSAR has ensured Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and does not affect the capitalist system and judicial independence in Hong Kong.

Cui Hongjian, the director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that the declaration is just a historical document that reflects the consensus of the two countries on Hong Kong at that time, and the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” are China’s domestic affairs rather than a promise to any other country.

An expert on international intelligence and security who asked not to be named told the Global Times that “Hong Kong is an important financial hub and intelligence exchange center, and the UK has tried very hard to retain its inappropriate influence in its former colony.

“The UK, as a crucial member of the Five Eyes Alliance, has used its influence in Hong Kong to collect intelligence about China and influence the city’s politics to favor the West after 1997. But given excessive provocation against China led by the US since last year, China has decided not to tolerate their inappropriate influence anymore,” he said.

‘Do me a favor’

In response to China’s national security law for Hong Kong, London has announced to offer about 350,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong, and 2.6 million others eligible, to come to the UK for five years. A year after that, they will be able to apply for citizenship, BBC reported.

Cui said this is more like a symbolic announcement, as most young protesters or rioters convicted during the turmoil are not eligible, unless London makes new policies to accept these protesters.

The anonymous expert noted that if these people leave Hong Kong, they can no longer make trouble in the city for their foreign masters. We won’t let the criminals escape, but for ordinary people who love the UK more than China, London can do us a favor and send chartered airplanes to take them away.”

5G loss

Chinese tech giant Huawei has become a UK target to vent its “anger” at China.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday that the UK is expected to begin phasing out the use of Huawei technology in the country’s 5G network as soon as this year, after Johnson said last week that he would protect critical British infrastructure from “hostile state vendors.”

However, Chinese analysts said the UK’s attitude toward Huawei shows London does not have many options, and the restrictions on Huawei amount to a “bluff than a bite.”

Cui said London’s action against Huawei was caused by pressure from the US, but it was reluctant to do because it also benefited from cooperating with Huawei, and China’s national security law for Hong Kong provided an excuse for 10 Downing Street to act.

If the UK doesn’t want Huawei but spends more money for other products with poor quality, “it’s up to you,” Liu said.

Analysts said the British government may “say one thing but do another,” as the Johnson administration prioritizes economic interests over political power games.

The UK is actually aware that it’s not a smart move to reverse its policy on Huawei, as the nation can’t afford the consequences--from the industrial impact which could cost millions of dollars, to the harm done to China-UK ties, said Ma Jihua, a veteran industry analyst and close follower of Huawei.

Ma added that China and Europe have long been conducting close cooperation in telecommunications so the two could establish their place in the industry, and the UK and other European countries should think twice before choosing to give up Europe’s 5G lead due to US disruption.

London’s action against Huawei was caused by pressure from the US, but it was reluctant to do because it also benefited from cooperating with Huawei.