UK Restarts Extraditions With Hong Kong, Cites 'Rules-Based Order'
The UK government is pushing forward with plans to restart certain extraditions with Hong Kong, a mere five years after suspending treaties over Beijing's crackdown on pro-democracy activists. Exiled dissidents, naturally, are now fearing for their safety, as the 'rule of law' appears to be less about justice and more about geopolitical convenience. One might recall the UK's swift sanctions
against individuals involved in the 2020 national security law, but now, pragmatism (read: trade) seems to have trumped principles. This move highlights a familiar pattern: Western governments decry human rights abuses until an opportunity arises to normalize relations with the perpetrators. The 'rules-based international order' frequently shifts when economic interests are on the table, leaving
those who believed in its principles exposed. It makes one wonder how many 'principled stands' a government can take before its hypocrisy becomes a foreign policy in itself. (Spoiler: unlimited, if the media barely notices.)