Occupy Central’s blunders will be its ruin

Source:Global Times Published: 2014-10-16 0:23:01

The illegal Occupy Central movement, which was instigated by the Hong Kong radical opposition camp, still continues. Beijing has used the term "Color Revolution" to describe the protests. With the escalating situation, participants need to back off in time and society should help them overcome intensive emotions. 

Having lasted for nearly 20 days, Occupy Central has brought nothing but chaos to Hong Kong society. The central government is unwavering in its attitude. There are growing voices criticizing Occupy Central for impinging on the rule of law and calling on the Hong Kong government to resume order as soon as possible.

Occupy Central has no future as it is based upon wrong geopolitical calculations. Hong Kong is the region of China which is closer to the West. The "one country, two systems" policy acknowledges the specialty of Hong Kong. How to exert this specialty is of vital significance to the region's destiny. 

Sandwiched between the Chinese mainland and the West, it's impossible to exclude Hong Kong from China-US strategic competition, which has been expanding in an increasing number of areas. Hong Kong is confronted with varied options. It could choose to be an important communicator between the mainland and the West. If it succeeds, the role of Hong Kong will be irreplaceable, even after the mainland kicks off an all-round opening-up to the outside world. Hong Kong should avoid stepping into the irreconcilable divergences between the Chinese mainland and the West. It would fare better if it took advantage of both sides.

The blunder of the Occupy Central forces lies in attempting to politically push Hong Kong back to the Western world through forcing it to choose a side. They've put Hong Kong on the chessboard of China-US competition in a high-profile position. They are making a childish political gamble. 

Despite its support for Occupy Central, Washington is contemplating to what extent it should interfere in it. The Chinese central government has multiple ways to macro-control the Hong Kong situation, and if the US openly confronts China, it won't stand a chance.

It is not in Hong Kong's interests to slide into the Western camp. Every time the forces instigated by the West make efforts to push Hong Kong into the Western camp, the whole of Hong Kong pays the price. Given the strong soft power of the West, they could easily implant unrealistic aspirations into the minds of some Hong Kong groups. If Hong Kong is dragged into a tug of war between the central government and the West, the Hong Kong public will suffer and Hong Kong as an Asian financial hub is doomed to decline.

The mainstream of Hong Kong society should object to any intention of turning Hong Kong into a boxing ring between China and the West. Nobody is truly concerned with Hong Kong's future save the mainland and Hong Kong itself. For Hong Kong's own sake, Occupy Central must end.  



 



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