It genuinely distresses me that so many journalists and pundits can’t find it in themselves to admit that maintaining a low profile is the best policy for the United States with respect to Hong Kong. Don’t give the Chinese authorities any excuses for cracking down on the protesters.
I would agree that it is best for the US to not say very much.
On the other hand — I think having Congress consider amendments, replacement, or repeal of the Hong Kong Policy Act is appropriate.
Congress granted the trade concessions in the act presuming China delivered on its promises regarding Hong Kong autonomy in the Sino-British accord.
It is time for Congress to update the act to align with reality.
Congress is just moving the deck chairs. We’re watching a slow moving tragedy. The Chinese Communist Party killed maybe 100 million people once. They won’t back down. They will kill off all trade with the West. Endure mass starvation of their own people. They will bring down the whole modern international order. They will fight a nuclear world war. They will prevail no matter what.
The terrible things the Chinese government is willing to do to its own people shouldn’t prevent the US from doing what makes sense from it’s view.
It is not saying the US should get involved.
It is saying acting as if nothing is happening makes one look feckless.
The Hong Kong Policy Act authorizes the president to change the way it is applied should China reduce Hong Kong’s autonomy. Under the circumstances I think such action by the president would be imprudent. Anything he does would meet with severe disapproval from the House and would be taken by the Chinese authorities as U. S. interference in domestic Chinese affairs.
If there is to be any reaction it should be from the Congress and it should be bipartisan.
That is why I said Congress should take the lead in figuring what adjustments are needed.
The adjustment I would suggest is that the trade concessions in the act require an affirmative vote in Congress every year – similar to the MFN votes of the Clinton years.