World powers split over Occupy, but most agree that Beijing unlikely to budge
Foreign ministers and experts from around the world voice differing opinions when it comes Occupy Central, yet they all seem to agree one on thing: Beijing is not likely to be swayed by the scale of recent protests.
Foreign ministers and experts from around the world have been voicing very differing opinions on the Occupy Central movement, ranging from sympathy for the protesters, or support for Beijing. Yet they all seem to agree one on thing: it's not likely that Beijing will be swayed by the scale of recent protests in Hong Kong.
On October 5, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), a US government body that advises US Congress on Sino-US relations, said, “We support an open and democratic system in Hong Kong based on universal suffrage, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly.
"We urge Hong Kong’s leadership to adopt an election process based on universal suffrage which provides a genuine choice of candidates representing the true aspirations of the Hong Kong people. We urge Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to exercise restraint and respect protesters’ right to express their views in a peaceful manner.”
In an interview with the Washington Post published on October 2, Jeff Bader, a former Asia adviser to US President Barack Obama, said that Beijing would likely stick to its position on Occupy Central.
“None of us should delude ourselves that there could be a change of heart or softness coming from China just around the corner,” Bader said.
He said he expected the Occupy Central protests would not last much longer.