Has Xi Jinping Found the Answer to Hong Kong?

AKHIL BHARDWAJ

What started as a demonstration by 12,000 citizens against a proposed legislation for extradition of criminal undertrials to China has escalated into a daily assembly of over two million protesting against Chinese ainterference' in Hong Kong, an examination of police brutality under the gaze of international press and a demand for full democracy. There have been anonymous accounts of the Hong Kong police expressing resentment at being forced to play a violent role in what should have been a political debate.

Meanwhile, Beijing has been content to signal its superior capability to use force (Hong Kong law allows for the administration to call upon the People's Liberation Army in tackling issues of "public order"). Xi Jinping has been learning from networked mobilisations around the world. While there is no threat to Jinping's presidency, the threat of economic sanctions and perhaps a trade exile against China motivate him to avoid a modern Tiananmen.

Hong Kong 2019 - A networked movement Much like the 2014 Occupy Protests in Hong Kong, the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street Protest in New York, Hong Kong 2019 has relied heavily on the internet for mobilisation and organisation. The protesters in Hong Kong have exhibited organisational capabilities that can be traced to learnings from the failed 2014 Occupy Protests. Complimentary offline measures such as using disposable cell phones, transacting in cash, purchase of single-fare tickets on public transport and even simply keeping faces covered during protests has helped prevent surveillance and thwarted counter-mobilisation efforts. Unlike the 2014 movement which was quashed through arrests of leaders, while the 2019 movement has witnessed numerous arrests of prominent figures, mobilisation hasn't been impacted. As such, while activists and organisations such as Joshua Wong and CHRF have thrown their weight behind the cause, by design no individual has claimed leadership of the movement.

The State's response

Early statements of the Hong Kong Administration such as a memo dated June 9 described the protests as "an example of Hong Kong people exercising their freedom of expressiona". To date police action has resulted in four deaths, 230 injuries and over 560 arrests.

In addition to these measures on the ground, the Administration has taken steps online. Attempts have been made to individually penetrate channels of communication and intercept or corrupt information flows.

By emphasising the discolouration of the national emblem as an act of "radicalism and a "threat to national sovereignty", the State owned media has been instructed to whip up nationalistic fervour amongst citizens of mainland China.

These are not isolated incidents. Xi is attempting to enlist the citizens of China in his attack on Hong Kong by playing on nationalism. He hopes to incite violence amongst the well organised pro- democracy protesters, giving him the moral authority to send in the PLA. Has Xi found the perfect tool to foil the surge of networked protestors or is China heading towards another Cultural Revolution? We will know soon - and it may set a precedent for counter-mobilization around the world. (IANS)

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