That really only works when the majority don’t have power. The Hong Kong protests failed because it was a minority trying to take power they never had, against the wishes of the majority.
Also international news agencies spilling the beans on the fact the leaders of the group were in constant communication with us agencies.
You have chosen the police-reported number of protesters (338 K) instead of 2 M reported by other sources.
You have also made a false comparison between Hong Kong (~10 M people) and the entire population of China. I recommend to use percentages. Up to 20% of the local population showed up to protest. More were dissatisfied.
What number of Chinese would show up to protest if a hot topic would appear and the regime would seem weak for a moment, is unknown.
My understanding was that there was some push back and political/police violence but the Chinese state largely let it play out and then within a month or two made mass arrests of the organizers.
This was a broadly supported movement, impressive in its size and unity.
The strategy Xi used was to not over emphasize the level of public support through direct confrontation - but to wipe out all resistance when the “controlled” energy of the crowd has somewhat dissipated.
Lesson for the current environment in the US: have a long term strategy tied to your goals, put very high degrees of pressure on specific state actors / functions that they cannot ignore or wait out
HK was economically dependent on China already, so their last struggle occurred too late, under the implied threat of the Chinese army moving in. The city government found ways to bring in Chinese police (or interior ministry troops) to overcome and outlast the protests.
What I find disheartening is that it ultimately didn’t work. Or am I wrong?
That’s not entirely true. Protests like these, at the very least, demonstrate class awareness to towards those in power. “Look what we can do”
Never forget that true power lies with the people. Always.
That really only works when the majority don’t have power. The Hong Kong protests failed because it was a minority trying to take power they never had, against the wishes of the majority.
Also international news agencies spilling the beans on the fact the leaders of the group were in constant communication with us agencies.
Ah yes the minority.
~300k vs 1.4 billion. That’s the definition of a minority.
That’s not an honest comparison.
You have chosen the police-reported number of protesters (338 K) instead of 2 M reported by other sources.
You have also made a false comparison between Hong Kong (~10 M people) and the entire population of China. I recommend to use percentages. Up to 20% of the local population showed up to protest. More were dissatisfied.
What number of Chinese would show up to protest if a hot topic would appear and the regime would seem weak for a moment, is unknown.
It’s the working class, the majority, who don’t have power…
It’s the everyone with less than a gigabuck.
It didn’t do anything from what I recall.
I believe it was quickly dissolved after they found that the leadership was in direct communication with USA agents.
Plus I recall there was general dissatisfaction from civilians who found the protestors to be a nuisance.
There is no opinion here, just what recall from the event history.
My understanding was that there was some push back and political/police violence but the Chinese state largely let it play out and then within a month or two made mass arrests of the organizers.
This was a broadly supported movement, impressive in its size and unity.
The strategy Xi used was to not over emphasize the level of public support through direct confrontation - but to wipe out all resistance when the “controlled” energy of the crowd has somewhat dissipated.
Lesson for the current environment in the US: have a long term strategy tied to your goals, put very high degrees of pressure on specific state actors / functions that they cannot ignore or wait out
You are correct, it didn’t work.
HK was economically dependent on China already, so their last struggle occurred too late, under the implied threat of the Chinese army moving in. The city government found ways to bring in Chinese police (or interior ministry troops) to overcome and outlast the protests.