Letters | Why international support for Hong Kong protesters is a double-edged sword

Hong Kong protesters have sought and found international attention and support. But this may only push Beijing into taking a tougher stance, as it would not want to project an image of weakness to patriots back home

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Ads placed in international newspapers in June urge readers to prevail on their governments’ representatives at the G20 summit to stand with Hongkongers opposed to the now-shelved extradition bill. Photo: Owen Churchill

Published: 7:15am, 26 Aug 2019Updated: 7:15am, 26 Aug 2019

Since June, the protests in Hong Kong have caught the attention of the world. International media has widely reported on it and foreign governments have weighed in. Western countries have offered varying degrees of support to the protesters and warned Beijing not to intervene directly. Meanwhile, Russia and North Korea have thrown their weight behind Beijing and followed its lead to condemn “foreign forces” behind the protests.

The protesters seem to welcome and encourage the international attention. The British and United States flags are often seen at the protests. On August 16, university students gathered at Chater Garden and called on the world to “stand with Hong Kong”. Demonstrations with similar themes were held in cities around the world, including London and Sydney, the next day. The protesters believe that Hong Kong stands the best chance of protecting its freedom and achieving democratisation by putting international pressure on Beijing.

Two schools of thought dominate the study of international relations: realism and liberalism. Realists perceive sovereign states as rational agents that seek to maximise their power to guarantee their survival. Liberals believe that states should cooperate to uphold liberal norms, such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

By rallying the support of the West, the protesters have aligned themselves with the liberals. Indeed, the response seems promising. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi affirmed her country’s commitment to human rights in Hong Kong, while the German government called upon China to uphold freedom of speech and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, as history has often proven, realists are likely to have the last laugh. When push comes to shove, national interests will always reign supreme. In contrast to his usual bellicose rhetoric, US President Donald Trump’s restrained remarks on Hong Kong reflect that his priority is reaching a trade deal with China over defending freedom in Hong Kong.