It seems odd to read back the first post in the original thread when I walked through the genesis of the protests turning from peaceful to violent.
That was six months ago, and here we are.
I think a few things should be outlined:
1. It transpires the original Extradition Bill was not, in fact, in response to the Taiwan murder case, but initiated and devised by the CCP in response to international backlash over their entering HK territory and kidnapping a businessman. The Taiwan case was just an excuse to enact it. Regardless, Taiwan rejected it, HK government continued to push it.
2. Despite 1-2M people marching over the weekend the government still tried to push it through. The Tuesday they tabled it is the day I wrote the original OP. In order to shut down government, protestors fought police and brought the bill to a stop, halted though not withdrawn. It was finally, begrudgingly, withdrawn in October, far too late.
3. 7/21 - the Yuen Long attack by local triads, and the thanks given to them by a local politician that night, seems a key turning point, when police were videoed simply walking away as 20-40 white T-shirt thugs attacked and beat commuters returning home.
These three things caused faith in the police and government to plummet, and for people in HK to determine to hold fast to their goals.
All that was long ago but it created a point of no return.
In October voters overwhelmingly elected pro-democracy candidates, putting to bed to lie there's some silent minority against the protests.
So the question is how this plays out. Do you think the people of HK have a chance? How long will it last or will it slowly wind down? What should protestors, and what should government do?
All this and more..
There is no doubt China has come under great pressure last year, from Xinjiang to Huawei, HK to negative reaction to their heavy handed approach to free speech, in January they face the Taiwan elections.
The story won't go away for China, but how will it all end?
