The News
A Hong Kong court sentenced 45 pro-democracy figures to prison for up to 10 years, as authorities crack down on the movement.
The sentence — over the organizing of an unofficial election primary — caps a years-long effort by Beijing to exert power over the once-autonomous city; Chinese authorities imposed a draconian national-security law in the territory following 2019 pro-democracy protests.
SIGNALS
International community criticizes ruling as Beijing decries Western ‘interference’
Following the sentencing, several international officials and human rights groups criticized China’s curbs on the freedom of expression in Hong Kong. A United Nations human rights spokesperson condemned the ruling, adding that the organization would continue to engage with China, while a European Union spokesperson said it was an “unprecedented blow against fundamental freedoms.” Beijing defended its position and criticized what it described as Western “interference” in Chinese politics: “This severely violates and tramples on the spirit of the rule of law,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.
US secretary of state nominee Rubio could be in ‘awkward’ position over China
US President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of state nominee, Sen. Marco Rubio, has been outspoken in his criticism of the charges against the Hong Kong activists, Reuters reported. A known “China hawk,” Rubio’s past condemnation of the country’s record on human rights and Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong led to him being banned from traveling there in 2020, the South China Morning Post noted. If confirmed in the post, Rubio could face the “awkward situation” of occupying the US’ top diplomatic role and being unable to travel to one of its greatest antagonists, Foreign Policy added, though it is possible that Rubio could modify his hardline stance to suit Trump’s agenda.
Hong Kong investment summit is ‘glaring’ juxtaposition to sentencing
Hong Kong is hosting its flagship investment summit this week — an effort to court Western capital that stands in “pretty glaring” juxtaposition to the activists’ sentencing, a banker told Nikkei Asia. Attendees include bankers and private investors from Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Apollo Management. The city needs an economic boost: Once the go-to Asian hub for international companies, the city has bled Western capital and talent as China has tightened its political grip, and its stock market has underperformed for three years. The city is “caught in a vice,” Morgan Stanley’s former Asia lead told Semafor’s Liz Hoffman: “It’s going to have an exceedingly difficult time growing with China on the skids.”