PRC Is Ready to Invade Hong Kong

[The Bread Guy]

This from Radio Free Asia (RFA) ...

Veteran journalist and political commentator Willy Lam spoke to RFA's Cantonese Service on Tuesday about why the ruling Chinese Communist Party hasn't cracked down on Hong Kong yet, in spite of escalating protests against amendments to the city's extradition law that could see alleged criminal suspects sent to face trial in mainland Chinese courts:

RFA: So will Beijing send in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to control unrest in Hong Kong?

Lam: I can say for certain that Xi Jinping isn't even going to consider sending in the PLA before the Oct. 1 National Day celebrations. The reason is very simple: On Oct. 1, they will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and President Xi has already arranged for the biggest ever display of military strength on Tiananmen Square. Any deployment of the PLA in Hong Kong before that date would spoil the festive atmosphere, because it would signal the end of the framework of one country, two systems. It would also diminish China in the eyes of the world, and be a loss of face for President Xi.

The entire state machinery for maintaining stability, that's to say the machinery of the police state, began under [former presidents] Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, but it has become much more powerful since Xi Jinping took power. It now incorporates high-tech features, like artificial intelligence and big data, and the social credit system. So there are many ways in which we can say that the machinery of the police state has already crossed the Shenzhen River into Hong Kong. The clearest example of that is the deployment of a large number of mainland police officers in Hong Kong, after Beijing decided the protests were a color revolution at the beginning of June. The ranks of the Hong Kong riot police now include anti-riot police from the north, who are wearing the uniforms of the Hong Kong police.

RFA: So what about the people in white shirts who attacked the protesters in black shirts in North Point, where people were surrounding the police station?

Lam: Cooperation between the Chinese police and triad organizations goes back many decades, and the mainland Chinese police and armed police forces have always used them to deal with problems that can't be allowed to see the light of day. For example, the use of violence to take land from farmers. This allows them to evade legal responsibility. But we haven't seen this kind of large-scale collusion between police and triad gangs in Hong Kong to target ordinary citizens in more than a century.

The anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong has become a black swan incident for mainland China. Ever since a million people took to the streets on June 9, the whole of Hong Kong society, at every level and in every sector, has been united against the government. Now the movement has broadened into a demand for fully democratic elections. Xi Jinping's main worry right now is how to deploy the machinery of stability maintenance to bring Hong Kong to heel.

RFA: But now the Chinese economy is having problems, isn't it?

Lam: China is facing a serious financial crisis and it is basically insolvent, so Hong Kong's status as an international financial center is more important to China than ever. The Chinese government may also start to demand a "public-private partnership" with the Hong Kong economy. But Hong Kong people won't just demand genuine universal suffrage; they will also extend this struggle to economic and financial activity. More and more middle class businesspeople will be breaking their silence.

And even though the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party keeps suppressing them, there are more and more civil organizations springing up in mainland China all the time. For example, the number of Protestants and Catholics may exceed the number of communists nationwide. Then you have the groups of veterans who often demonstrate, you have a large number of grievances at home, and then there is resistance in Hong Kong. This isn't something that can be solved in the long term using the machinery of stability maintenance. The greater the pressure, the greater the resistance will be.

The continued struggle of the people of Hong Kong over the past few weeks has inspired civil society in mainland China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the rest of the world. I predict that the stability maintenance regime of the Chinese Communist Party dictatorship won't stay effective for very long.

 

[The Bread Guy]

From China's military media - text also attached ...

China on Tuesday further responded to questions on whether the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will be deployed to take over Hong Kong.

Yang Guang, spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, responded to the question with three points at a media briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

"First, the PLA's 92 years of glorious history has proved its unparalleled reliability and strength when it comes to safeguarding the country's sacred territory.

"Second, the PLA is not only a mighty force, but also a civilized one. The PLA listen to the orders from the Communist Party of China and acts in accordance with laws. And so does the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, which acts in accordance with relevant rules of the Basic Law and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Garrisoning of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

"Third, we believe that with firm support from the central government and from people in Hong Kong together with people from all over the country, the Hong Kong regional government and Hong Kong police are fully capable of punishing violent crimes and restoring social order and stability.

"These three points become a complete system, and if I need to say one more sentence, it is that the central government and people from all over the country give true support to the prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. The central government will never allow any violation of the principle of 'one country, two systems' to go unpunished and will never let unrest take place that is uncontrollable by the Hong Kong regional government and endanger national unity and safety," Yang said.

Yang's remarks came after Chen Daoxiang, commander of the PLA Garrison in Hong Kong, condemned violence on the streets of Hong Kong and vowed to firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and national security.

The Hong Kong police Tuesday dismissed rumors the PLA has been deployed as Hong Kong police, according to a statement released on the website of the Hong Kong regional government.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Meanwhile, a bit of what some of those other troops are up to ...
"China, Singapore hold joint military drill on urban anti-terrorism" (CHN military media, with some video)

Given that China supported a decades long insurgency conflict against Singapore, and is likely continuing to foment low level insurgency in the Malayan peninsula, I find this joint training interesting.

 

[The Bread Guy]

A reminder from CHN's Communist Party media of who else could drop by to help (with a yet another reminder @ the end of the article)?

Shenzhen police drill mirrors Hong Kong protests
Source:Global Times Published: 2019/8/6 13:08:19

A total of 12,000 police officers in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province participated in a drill on Tuesday, attracting online attention as the drill features emergency scenarios that resemble the ongoing riots in adjacent Hong Kong.

Shenzhen police said that the drill aimed to maintain social stability, encourage the morale of police forces, and prepare the forces ahead of 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, according to a statement sent by the police to the Global Times on Tuesday.

Participants included all police forces - land, air and sea - and equipment such as armored cars, helicopters and amphibious vehicles.

However, the drill attracted unusual attention on social media as many netizens, who hold a grudge against recent riots in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the drill can also call the attention of rioters in Hong Kong, and give Hong Kong police a tip about how to deal with radical protesters.

According to video clips of the drill, people in the crowd simulating a mob wore helmets, masks and black outfits. They constantly threw objects at the shield-holding police forces, and attacked them with wooden sticks.

To deal with such violence, the police fired tear gas and sent police dogs. They used a newly developed cluster tear gas, which has wider coverage and stronger effect compared with traditional ones.

The crowd also pushed blazing carts toward police, who immediately put out the fire with fire extinguishers.

The drill was live broadcasted via many online media platforms.

The crowds' outfits, equipment and the manner in which they attacked the police were very similar to those of the radical protesters in Hong Kong, which prompted many netizens to link the drill with the riots in Hong Kong.

Many suggested that this could send a signal to those rioters, and called on Hong Kong police to learn from the drill.

The live broadcast suffered from lagging streaming speeds from time to time as too many netizens were tuning in.

Hong Kong police are showing restraint in dealing with the radical protesters, and their efforts to safeguard the stability of the region are winning increasing support in the Chinese mainland.

Many mainland netizens, especially young people, who grew up watching Hong Kong crime movies and developed an admiration for Hong Kong police officers, took to social media to express their anger toward the radical anti-government protesters.

Xu Luying, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council, said Tuesday that with firm and steady support of the central government and all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots, the Hong Kong government and the police force have the full ability to bring violent criminals to justice and restore social order and peace.

The netizens' response and assumption came from their worries about the recent situation in Hong Kong and did not indicate the government's intention, Zhang Dinghuai, a professor at the Center for Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region of Shenzhen University, told the Global Times, noting that the central government will act according to relevant laws.

Responding to a question concerning how to deal with Hong Kong secessionist forces, Wu Qian, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense cited the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Garrisoning of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which stipulates that the Hong Kong government can request that the central government to allow the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong to maintain social order and provide disaster relief when necessary.

 

[MilEME09]

Friend shared this on facebook, it is being reported that ambulance crews are being spotted wearing military uniforms and are only helping police, and the white shirt gangs. Supplemented by the rumors that the PLA is deploying troops in Hong Kong police uniforms, feels like Beijing is puling out all the stops short of rolling the tanks in. Protesters are also escalating using laser pointers to counter police and facial recognition cameras.

 

[Edward Campbell]

I have heard ~ not confirmed by anyone who is really in the know ~ that some Shenzhen police officers are already in HK, working sort of semi-undercover. They were said to have been dressed in black T-shirts, but blue police trousers and boots, and some tried to mingle with the demonstrators. When confronted they withdrew to the police lines; they were followed and asked for their warrant card numbers, something that every HK police officer recites at the drop of a hat. But, the source says, since they were Chinese cops, not HK ones, they have no warrant cards.

The Hong Kong police have been run off their feet; the current "flow like water" tactics stretches them even further; they are tired and it is showing, I think. They are making mistakes, discipline is breaking down in some cases ~ all to be expected and all in line with old fashioned "revolutionary warfare" doctrine and tactics. 

The use of Chinse Army troops would be an admission that HK cannot govern itself. That's something that neither the officials, in Beijing and HK, nor the demonstrators want. The only source of police reinforcements is the mainland Chinese civil police, but they are very, very unlike the HK police in training and attitudes.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I have heard ~ not confirmed by anyone who is really in the know ~ that some Shenzhen police officers are already in HK, working sort of semi-undercover. They were said to have been dressed in black T-shirts, but blue police trousers and boots, and some tried to mingle with the demonstrators. When confronted they withdrew to the police lines; they were followed and asked for their warrant card numbers, something that every HK police officer recites at the drop of a hat. But, the source says, since they were Chinese cops, not HK ones, they have no warrant cards.

The Hong Kong police have been run off their feet; the current "flow like water" tactics stretches them even further; they are tired and it is showing, I think. They are making mistakes, discipline is breaking down in some cases ~ all to be expected and all in line with old fashioned "revolutionary warfare" doctrine and tactics. 

The use of Chinse Army troops would be an admission that HK cannot govern itself. That's something that neither the officials, in Beijing and HK, nor the demonstrators want. The only source of police reinforcements is the mainland Chinese civil police, but they are very, very unlike the HK police in training and attitudes.

The Gurkhas always had good success at controlling the crowds in Hong Kong, although the results were not always to the liking of the protesters

 

[Spencer100]

The Gurkhas always had good success at controlling the crowds in Hong Kong, although the results were not always to the liking of the protesters

I hear a lot of the things the Gurkhas did and do are not to the liking for those on the other side. 

 

[daftandbarmy]

I hear a lot of the things the Gurkhas did and do are not to the liking for those on the other side. 

Different time zone, different ROE

https://coconuts.co/hongkong/news/british-army-would-have-shot-hong-kong-protestors-80s/

 

[tomahawk6]

I wish the US could raise a Gurkha battalion or two.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I wish the US could raise a Gurkha battalion or two.

You can, for the right price

Trump might need the objective body guarding help https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurkha_Reserve_Unit

 

[Colin Parkinson]

How the Hong Kong protests effect us here

https://amp.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3022207/hong-kong-protests-uygur-camps-how-chinese-students-became

 

[The Bread Guy]

I have heard ~ not confirmed by anyone who is really in the know ~ that some Shenzhen police officers are already in HK, working sort of semi-undercover...

A reminder from CHN's Communist Party media of who else could drop by to help (with a yet another reminder @ the end of the article)?

Shenzhen police drill mirrors Hong Kong protests

(...)

Same Communist Party info-machine sharing some Twitter video of "armed police armored vehicle fleet" preparing for "a drill in Shenzhen, S China's Guangdong province" - a few screen captures attached, as well as a map showing where Shenzen is re:  Hong Kong.

 

[The Bread Guy]

The "T" word and variations seem to be popping up in Communist Party and Chinese government media ...

• "Hong Kong riots have ‘signs of terrorism’: official" (CHN Communist Party media)
• "Throwing petrol bombs at police officers an act of terror: HK police association" (CHN Communist Party media)
• "Liaison office of China’s central gov’t in Hong Kong condemns radical, illegal atrocities" (CHN military media)
• "Beijing warns of 'terrorism' as petrol bombs hurled in Hong Kong" (CHN military media)
• “Beijing warns of ‘signs of terrorism’ in violent unrest in Hong Kong” (South China Monrning Post)

 

[Spencer100]

Hong Kong the pearl of the orient is about to be overwhelmed by the PRC. To be just another part of the megapolis pearl delta megacity. 

As all things come to an end.

But in decades future they can look back an say it was better under the British

 

[Journeyman]

The "T" word and variations seem to be popping up in Communist Party and Chinese government media ...

Looks like they're setting up their response to any deaths from the inevitable PRC intervention;  crushing internal pro-democracy = bad -- responding to evil domestic terror = well, what country wouldn't do the same?

Given the photo op that was Tiananmen Square, you won't see any tanks, merely  'armoured cars'... like many police forces and Brinks or Garda use.

 

[The Bread Guy]

… responding to evil domestic terror = well, what country wouldn't do the same? ...

Especially terror fanned by foreign interlopers, right?

 

[Journeyman]

To be honest, when you said "the T-word," I initially presumed you meant "Trump" or "Trudeau" -- those words tend to set some people off regardless of context or details.  ;D

 

[OldSolduer]

Especially terror fanned by foreign interlopers, right?

I'm an amateur in the world of international relations, but isn't it a bit rich of China to express displeasure at "foreign interlopers"?

:2c:

 

[The Bread Guy]

To be honest, when you said "the T-word," I initially presumed you meant "Trump" or "Trudeau" -- those words tend to set some people off regardless of context or details.  ;D