In our complicated response to the many transgressions perpetrated by China, not least of course their duplicity in the birth and spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, there is possibly one magic bullet that would have more significant impact on them than other types of power, and that is the power of freedom. The Wall Street Journal editorial board has proposed a great idea to “weaponize” it.
In a major point of conflict, China is replacing the agreed “one country, two systems” form of government it promised Hong Kong with “one country, one system”, a clear violation. The Journal believes and I agree that the one thing that might give Chinese President Xi Jinping the most heartburn would be to offer the people of Hong Kong their freedom in the form of green cards to live and work in the U. S., with a path to citizenship if they want it. Great Britain has already taken steps to do this and Canada and Australia have expressed support. The Trump administration could also make visas available to Hong Kong people who want to immigrate to the U. S., most of whom already qualify for asylum treatment here.
Communist China fears nothing more than a groundswell of activism with incentives for freedom for Hong Kong and this is the kind of bold move that would send all the right messages here and around the world about American faith in freedom. Can you imagine the horror coming from Beijing as hundreds of thousands Hong Kong Chinese begin to take up such an offer to vote with their feet? It is exactly the kind of idea that would put the clear focus on the incompatibility of the two political models for all to see. It would be a big political winner for Trump as well and he should move quickly to implement these policies.
I totally agree. The WSJ this morning reports that Boris Johnson of the UK is making this offer to millions in Hong Kong. A good man!
Freedom is the one thing the CCP fears most–it’s like their kryptonite.
Wholesale green cards for immigrants from Hong Kong is a short-term winner. However, I believe the loss of its more discontent citizens will result in the loss of the people who provide the best resistance to further loss of freedom there. Witness: The impact of the exodus of the most enterprising citizens from Mexico, Central America and Cuba on the countries they abandoned. The loss in each of these societies of the people most interested in and able to effect needed social change has perpetuated problems in their former homelands. It’s a knotty issue.
Knotty issue no doubt. But I believe that Xi knows he must have a viable Hong Kong for his regime to survive and it cannot stand a mass exodus of the best and brightest. After all, regime change is what this is all about.
I regret I find it hard to believe that many thousands of freedom-loving Hong Kongers would leave their assets behind at this time. HK is the most expensive city in Asia, and that includes Tokyo. I am not sure they are yet desperate enough to become the new “Boat People”, probably tens of thousands of whom died at sea fleeing Ho Chi Minh.
We shall see.
I hope I am wrong.
Good point, but I’m not sure this is the same in that the boat people, many thousands of whom came to Houston, were more like the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” whereas this current HK crowd would be more like the class to receive H1B visas. Who knows, but it’s worth a bold effort.
A great idea!
Being exiled was a grave punishment in the Roman era, and I suspect it would suit the CCP and Xi just fine if the freedom-respecting residents of Hong Kong chose exile across the Pacific.
Rather akin to removing a thorn from the lion’s paw.