Pro-democracy protesters held a Thanksgiving Day rally to
thank the United States and President Trump for signing bills into law on
Wednesday that support the demonstrators in their struggle against Beijing.
The bipartisan bills signed by the president impose sanctions on officials in Hong Kong and China
that are responsible for human rights abuses. The bills also require an annual
review of the special autonomous status the U.S. State Department grants to
Hong Kong during trade considerations. The revocation of that status is a powerful
tool to incentivize support of pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong. The
legislation also bans the sale of crowd control munitions to Hong Kong that
have been used by police against the protesters.
“I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi,
China and the people of Hong Kong,” the president said in a statement after signing the bills. “They are being
enacted in the hope that leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong
will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long-term peace
and prosperity for all.”
On Thanksgiving Day, a large crowd of several thousand
assembled to express gratitude for the show of support from the United States.
The crowd sang the Star Bangled Banner as attendees waved American flags.
The Trump administration and Beijing are currently
involved in a trade war and it remains to be seen how the bills signed by the
president on Wednesday will play out in the ongoing dispute. When the Senate
backed the bill, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the legislation
"violates the basic norms of international law and international
relations" and "interferes in China's internal affairs." The
government of Hong Kong also warned the bills would harm relations between Hong
Kong and the United States, calling the bills "unnecessary and
unwarranted."
But the pro-democracy protesters seem to be winning the
public's support in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy parties picked up an overwhelming number of seats on Sunday in Hong Kong's
district council elections. Seen as a stunning rebuke to Beijing and its
supporters in Hong Kong, the elections drew a record turnout in voter
participation. The district council races are local, community-related offices.
But given the widespread unrest by protestors calling for greater democracy for
Hong Kong, the election is seen as a referendum on Hong Kong's current
relationship with Beijing.
In July, massive protests erupted after a bill was
introduced in the Hong Kong government that would allow for the extradition of
Hong Kong citizens to communist China. The pro-democracy groups see the bill as
undermining the sovereignty of Hong Kong and the civil liberties of its
citizenry.
As the protests have advanced, protesters have settled
around five key demands from the Hong Kong government. First, for the
controversial bill to be withdrawn. Second, an investigation into allegations
of police brutality and misconduct towards the protesters. Third, the release
of all arrested protesters. Fourth, the retraction of the characterization of
the protests as "riots." And finally, the resignation of the current
chief executive as well as universal suffrage for the chief executive and legislative
council elections.
