Washington backs off from pressing Beijing on Hong Kong political reform
Washington uses low-key approach with Beijing over city's democratic future as analysts argue countries have 'more urgent ' issues to address
Washington has spoken out about its desire to see Hong Kong move forward in its democratic development - but also believes that the issue is an internal affair for China, according to several sources.
US National Security Adviser Susan Rice raised the issue of Hong Kong during her visit to Beijing earlier this week, sources said. But it was only a side issue among a wide range of topics that the two sides discussed, the sources said.
It is not clear when Rice mentioned Hong Kong to Beijing officials. But has reported that Hong Kong was discussed when Rice met President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.
Sources said Washington was aware that the National People's Congress (NPC) had the authority to decide arrangements for Hong Kong's chief executive election in 2017. "There may be different interpretations … but Hong Kong is part of China and it is within its rights to exercise the authority," one source said.
Despite the moderate stance from Washington, Jiang Yu, the foreign ministry's deputy commissioner in Hong Kong, on Wednesday stressed that Beijing would "absolutely not tolerate" external interference in the city's affairs. Jiang made the point after reported that Rice had discussed Hong Kong with Xi.
Shi Yinhong, a US affairs expert at the Renmin University of China, said Rice "only briefly mentioned Hong Kong".
He said China and the US had "more urgent issues to deal with", such as establishing a protocol for their military jets over the South China Sea.
Shi said Beijing was firm over Hong Kong in the talks with the US delegates.
"The thinking is that if we give in just because the US has said something, then those in the opposition camp in Hong Kong may demand more", he said.
Several sources told the that Beijing had taken extra steps to persuade foreign countries not to "interfere" in the decision made last month by the NPC.
Sources said Chinese officials had met foreign diplomats just before the NPC Standing Committee announced its decision on Hong Kong's electoral reform on August 31 and the officials explained Beijing's stance on the city's democratic development.
They stressed to the foreign diplomats that it must be in accordance with the Basic Law - Hong Kong's mini-constitution - and made clear that Beijing would not allow foreign interference over this issue. Sources said it was not a common practice for Beijing to hold such briefings.
On August 31, the NPC Standing Committee approved universal suffrage for the next chief executive election in 2017 but set a restrictive framework for selecting candidates.
Michael DeGolyer, a professor of international studies at Hong Kong Baptist University, said changes in the global geopolitical landscape meant that the Hong Kong issue would not be a priority for the White House.
"On the Ukraine [issue] and the fight against Islamic State, Barack Obama was trying to forge a coalition and to get China on its side … [so the US] doesn't see any [reason why it should] pointlessly anger Beijing over Hong Kong," DeGolyer told the.
