Why Hongkongers owe Donald Trump nothing, despite the steadfast support of Congress

Originally published by the Hong Kong Free Press on 28/11/2019.

Hong Kong’s self-styled saviour does not deserve the gratitude of the city’s citizens. Mr Trump may have signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act but his words show whose side he is really on.

American presidents engage in realpolitik, this is a given. They have to make tough decisions and sometimes have to keep schtum about horrors being committed beyond their borders. At best, when they go about this business they will, as the Soviet dissident Vladimir Bukovsky put it, ask themselves “how will it look to the boys in the camps?”. Yet for all the sentimental thoughts in the world they nevertheless act as Washington’s head.

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Democrats must stand up to China

Originally published by the Taipei Times on 19/11/2019.

The election of Donald Trump as 45th president of the US has been a mixed blessing for longstanding critics of Washington’s engagement policy regarding Beijing.

As I have argued before in the Taipei Times, the president himself and the people whom he chooses to surround himself with send mixed signals. From hawkish posturing to heaping on nauseating levels of praise, the current US administration’s approach to China covers the spectrum.

Yet in the field of economics, where Trump’s challenge has been strongest, things look set to cool down as the US and the People’s Republic of China try to finalize a trade deal.

Those keen to promote human rights and protect the liberal democratic international order have been sidelined. Once Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) settle their differences on trade, could this sidelining continue as both countries reproach one another?

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In Taiwan elections, mudslinging and shock-and-awe tactics should be seen as a sign of desperation

Originally published by the Hong Kong Free Press on 16/11/2019.

Forget Washington’s “liberal establishment” and the “metropolitan elite” who dominate the Palace of Westminster, we now have Taipei’s “plump” “fair-skinned” technocrats to despise.

Those are the words of, who else but, presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu. The conservative Kuomintang (KMT) hopeful was speaking at a campaign rally in Yuanlin City a couple of weeks ago. Han directed this personal attack against several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians, including his rival in next January’s vote, President Tsai Ing-wen.

The Kaohsiung Mayor has form when it comes to lobbing around insults. His offensive comments are well documented, as too are the gaffes which have littered his presidential run so far.

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