Sanctioning Hong Kong for 'National Security' While Arming Unchecked Regimes
While Western media decries Beijing's crackdown on dissent – a legitimate concern – the narrative conveniently pivots when inconvenient allies are involved. The FT article flags Jimmy Lai’s conviction under a national security law, implying a unique Chinese autocratic danger. Yet, the same outlets routinely whitewash governments employing far bloodier, unchecked national security measures (often
with weapons purchased from the very nations doing the hand-wringing). We hear endless outrage over Hong Kong, but where's the equivalent condemnation, let alone sanctions, for the Netanyahu government's actual destruction of civic society, journalists, and entire populations in Gaza? One might wonder how many 'national security laws' are permissible before they stop being a rhetorical cudgel and
start being an actual criterion for Western policy. Apparently, it depends entirely on who’s writing the checks and whose 'security' is being invoked.