Protesters in Hong Kong carry American flags, seeking the U.S.’s help in securing their rights from China. Photo courtesy of National Review
On Sunday, September 8, thousands of protesters in Hong Kong stood outside the United States embassy seeking help, singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” while waving American flags. It’s clear that the people in Hong Kong look to the United States as a shining ideal of democracy. President Donald J. Trump P ’00 should support the citizens of Hong Kong and show the world that the United States stands for democracy everywhere.
The protests began in March, prompted by opposition to an extradition bill that would allow citizens of Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. The bill was withdrawn on September 4, but the protests grew to the scale of millions in June and protesters have now expanded their goal to five major demands, including universal suffrage and police accountability.
When the bill was introduced in February, Hong Kong citizens saw it as little more than a power grab from China. Not without reason, they feared it would erode their legal system.A statement of support from President Trump directed to President Xi Jinping of China and the entire Chinese government would afford the protesters some international legitimacy and dissuade China from using force to violently end the protests.
President Trump’s comments have so far been underwhelming. In a tweet, he said, “I know President Xi of China very well. He is a great leader who very much has the respect of his people. He is also a good man in a tough business. I have ZERO doubt that if President Xi wants to quickly and humanely solve the Hong Kong problem, he can do it. Personal meeting?”
President Trump must make a forceful declaration that the trade war currently being waged between the U.S. and China will not cease until Hong Kong is guaranteed its rights. If he wants to be more than a punchline of a joke he doesn’t understand, President Trump should speak directly to President Xi and display the United States’ continued resolve to support democracy wherever it may be.
The U.S. is involved in a trade war with China in order to challenge China’s rapidly increasing global influence. What better opportunity to strike a major blow against China than to have it concede to protests for democracy? The ideological victory that a free Hong Kong would provide should be all the motivation President Trump needs to make this issue a priority.
And if that isn’t enough, how about the ideals that this nation was founded upon? The American Revolution began with people fighting to secure their freedoms from an authoritarian global superpower. It is eerily similar to what is happening in Hong Kong. The United States, in its infancy, fought for democracy and the many freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights. Throughout our history, we have fought so that other countries could enjoy those same freedoms. We should continue to do so for Hong Kong.
Thirty years ago, reporters and other witnesses watched as protesters were massacred in Tiananmen Square. China has removed record of the atrocity from its history. Twenty-eight years from now, in the year 2047, Hong Kong is supposed to be completely under mainland China’s control. The United States must ensure that in three decades, these protests are celebrated as the start of a fully democratic Hong Kong, not as events erased from the record books.
