Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has snapped back at Western politicians voicing support for democratic reform in Hong Kong, reiterating Beijing’s insistence that foreign countries should keep out of what China considers a domestic problem.
Speaking before his meeting Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who urged Wang’s government to heed the calls of Hong Kong’s protesters, Wang told reporters that the Obama Administration’s input was unwelcome, calling on Washington and other governments to “respect China’s sovereignty.”
Beijing has “very formally and clearly stated its position: Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs,” said the high-ranking Chinese official.
Wang’s comments on Wednesday are familiar, as China’s Communist Party is seldom friendly to the U.S. weighing in on its human-rights record. Washington has sought to strike a balance between chastising China for a litany of oppressive domestic policies while developing extensive economic ties with the world’s most populous nation.
“The U.S. finds it very difficult to talk about democracy with China,” says Maya Wang, a Hong Kong–based researcher for Human Rights Watch. “But this is an opportunity, when you have thousands of protesters on the ground showing strong support for democracy.”
Since Sunday, tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents have donned yellow ribbons and raised umbrellas — adopted as the movement’s symbol after they were used to fend off police pepper spray — across some of this cosmopolitan city’s busiest districts.
Photographs of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution
Protesters sit behind a government building as the standoff continues Oct. 5, 2014 in Hong Kong.Paula Bronstein—Getty ImagesProtesters walk along the protest site on a quiet night as the standoff continues Oct. 5, 2014 in Hong Kong.Paula Bronstein—Getty ImagesA pro-democracy protester sleeps on a concrete road divider on a street outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct. 5, 2014 in Hong Kong.Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesPeople try to prevent a man from removing a barricade set up by pro-democracy protesters blocking a main road at Hong Kong's shopping Mongkok district Oct. 4, 2014. Bobby Yip—ReutersPolicemen try to get a man to let go of a fence guarded by pro-democracy demonstrators in an occupied area of Hong Kong on Oct. 3, 2014.Philippe Lopez—AFP/Getty ImagesA local resident breaks through police lines and attempts to reach the pro-democracy tent on Oct. 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesA student protester is injured after being pulled off and hit by residents and pro-Beijing supporters while local police are escorting him out of the protest area in Kowloon's crowded Mong Kok district, Oct. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. Wong Maye-E—APStudents and pro-democracy activists leave the protest site as local police hold back local residents and pro-government supporters on Oct. 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesA man walks past a barricade as protesters continue to block areas outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong, Oct. 3, 2014.Carlos Barria—ReutersPro-democracy demonstration in Hong Kong, Sept. 3, 2014.James Nachtwey for TIMEStudent protesters raise their hands to show their non-violent intentions as they resist during change of shift for local police but backed down after being reassured they could reoccupy the pavement outside the government compoundís gate, Oct. 2, 2014 in Hong Kong. Wong Maye-E—APPolice stand guard outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on Oct. 2, 2014, as pro-democracy protesters remain gathered for the fifth day in a push for free elections of the city's leader. Philippe Lopez—AFP/Getty ImagesA taxi driver gives a thumbs up to pro-democracy protesters as he drives past the protest site in front of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's office, early on Oct. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. Wong Maye-E—APProtesters sleep on the road outside the Police Headquarters building on Oct. 2, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesStudents from various universities continue their protest in the streets of Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2014.Nicole Tung for TIMEA protester holding an umbrella stands on the street close to the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct. 1, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesJoshua Wong, leader of the student movement, delivers a speech as protesters block the main street to the financial Central district, outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong Oct. 1, 2014. Carlos Barria—ReutersProtesters react as Joshua Wong, leader of the student movement, speaks to the crowd outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong Oct. 1, 2014.Carlos Barria—ReutersTens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators, some waving lights from mobile phones, fill the streets in the main finical district of Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2014. Wally Santana—APA protester sleeps on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex at sunrise on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Paula Bronstein—Getty ImagesPro-democracy demonstrators rest during a protest in Hong Kong on Sept. 30, 2014.Philippe Lopez—AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters relax on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesA pro-democracy protestor speaks to the crowd in front of the government offices in Hong Kong on Sept. 30, 2014.Anthony Wallace—AFP/Getty ImagesA couple wearing protective masks and ponchos walk through Admiralty district as part of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on Sept. 30, 2014. Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters sing songs and wave their cell phones in the air after a massive thunderstorm passed over outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesPro-democracy demonstrators gather for the third night in Hong Kong on Sept. 30, 2014.Philippe Lopez—AFP/Getty ImagesA businessman stands in front of a road block set up by protesters at the main street of the financial Central district in Hong Kong Sept. 29, 2014. Tyrone Siu—ReutersA protester raises his arms as police officers try to disperse the crowd near the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014. Carlos Barria—ReutersUmbrellas used to shield demonstrators from pepper spray and the sun are displayed during a pro-democracy protest near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 29, 2014. Dale De La Rey—AFP/Getty ImagesResidents on scooters bring supplies to protesters camped outside the headquarters of Legislative Council during protests in Hong Kong on Sept. 29, 2014.Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesPolice walk down a stairwell as pro-democracy demonstrators gather for a rally outside the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 29, 2014. Dale de la Rey—AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters gather in the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 29, 2014 in Hong Kong.Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesPro-democracy demonstrators hold up their mobile phones during a protest near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 29, 2014. Dale De la Rey—AFP/Getty ImagesPro-democracy demonstrators are sprayed with pepper spray during clashes with police officers during a rally near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014. Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesA pro-democracy demonstrator wearing a mask and goggles to protect against pepper spray and tear gas gestures during a rally near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014. Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesRiot police launch tear gas into the crowd as thousands of protesters surround the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.Wally Santana—APA protester walks in tear gas fired by riot policemen after thousands of protesters blocking the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014. ReutersA pro-democracy protester confronts the police during a demonstration in Hong Kong on Sept. 28, 2014.Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesPro-democracy protesters demonstrate in Hong Kong on Sept. 28, 2014. Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesPolicemen confronts protesters in Hong Kong during a demonstration on Sept. 28, 2014. Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesRiot police fire tear gas on student protesters occupying streets surrounding the government headquarters in Hong Kong, early on Sept. 29, 2014. Wally Santana—APA pro-democracy demonstrator pours water over a man's face after police fired tear gas at protesters during a rally near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014. Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty ImagesPro-democracy protesters put their hands up in the air in front of the police in Hong Kong on Sept. 28, 2014Alex Ogle—AFP/Getty ImagesSome of the protesters sleep as they block the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters, in Hong Kong, Sept, 29, 2014.Carlos Barria—ReutersPolicemen rest following pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, early on Sept. 29, 2014.Xaume Olleros—AFP/Getty Images
They are demanding that Hong Kong’s leader, Chief Executive (CE) Leung Chun-ying, steps down, and that voters be given the right to freely choose their own CE in 2017. While Beijing has agreed to a popular vote, an Aug. 31 statement insisted that the list of just two or three candidates must first be approved a nomination committee plump with Chinese Communist Party loyalists.
HRW’s Wang suggested that a possible compromise could be reached if Beijing conceded to restaff the nomination committee to better represent Hong Kongers’ interests. “If the U.S. is serious about these issues, then they must speak out for Hong Kong,” she adds.
Later on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Wang met with U.S. President Barack Obama and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, both of whom “expressed their hope that differences between Hong Kong authorities and protesters will be addressed peacefully,” according to a readout from the meeting.
The original purpose of the Washington meetings was to prepare for Obama’s much anticipated November visit to China, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to discuss collaboration on several global issues, including the Ebola epidemic and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS).
Beijing has accused the U.S. and other foreign powers — including Britain, which returned Hong Kong to China in 1997 — of inciting the ongoing pro-democracy protests. A cartoon shared on social media in China showed a grim reaper Uncle Sam knocking on Hong Kong’s proverbial door and bellowing, “Open up! Democracy is here!” while blood pooled out of nearby doors marked Syria and Iraq, among others.
“Of course, the complication with the U.S. making a stand is that Beijing is already trying to blame this all on foreign hostile forces,” says William Nee, a Hong Kong–based researcher at Amnesty International. “But the U.S. should not be deterred by that.”
“This is a critical moment for Hong Kong,” he adds, “and the international community must voice its support.”
Those thronging Hong Kong’s sweltering streets appear eager for foreign governments to lean hard on China. Earlier this week, young protesters in the pulsing retail district of Causeway Bay knelt under a yellow umbrella and crafted pro-democracy signs in multiple languages, including Hindi, Korean, German, and French, as well as Cantonese and English.
“We cannot do this on our own,” said university student Ng Yuen-mei, 23. “We need the attention of the world.”
