Beijing is establishing a police state in Hong Kong – even if it risks destroying the international city

“Beijing will not be able to establish iron rule over Hong Kong without destroying the territory.” Or so I wrote in late 2019. By 2021, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seems bent on doing whatever it takes to make the “city of protest” safe for the regime, no matter the cost.

On June 30, 2020, the eve of the 23nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to Chinese rule, Beijing imposed a national security law (NSL) – or, more accurately, a regime security law – to “prevent, stop, and punish” the crimes of “secession,” “subversion,” “terrorism,” and “collusion with foreign forces.” These terms are vaguely defined to cover any form of dissent.

As of May 17, 2021, national security police have made 107 arrests under the law, with 57 prosecuted, among whom the majority have been denied bail.

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