Скачать или смотреть U.S VS CHINA America invites allies to join the Cold War with China

US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will end Hong Kong’s special status in response to China’s tightening grip on the autonomous city is a pivotal moment in an emerging new Cold War, one where nations will increasingly be forced to choose superpower sides.

“We will take action to revoke Hong Kong’s preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory from the rest of China,” Trump said, warning of sanctions against Chinese officials involved in “smothering, absolutely smothering, Hong Kong’s freedom.”

While Trump’s administration has expanded strategic cooperation with authoritarian partners, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, it has continued to highlight China’s repressive policies in a bid to seize a democratic high ground, one it clearly hopes to leverage to win allies to its Cold War side.

Beijing-picked officials in Hong Kong were quick to dismiss the threats and measures, with Security Minister John Lee saying that the US won’t “succeed in using any means to threaten the (Hong Kong) government because we believe what we are doing is right.”

Justice Minister Teresa Cheng characterized US criticisms as “completely false and wrong”, while defending the legality of the new security law. The law will allow mainland security agencies to conduct law enforcement and intelligence activities in Hong Kong, powers Beijing feels it needs to suppress a new round of anti-China protests.