Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung summons the Japanese Consul General to complain about Tokyo’s treatment of Diaoyutai protestors. As well as demanding 
the return of the arrested activists, his government’s statement on the late-night meeting declares that the disputed islands are Chinese territory. Such matters would usually be handled by Beijing or the local branch of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (who have also commented). The Big Lychee’s usual role in foreign affairs is to keep its head down; Asia’s cosmopolitan world city officially loves its trade, investment and residents from everywhere in the world equally, including Japan. Now, Hong Kong is getting openly involved. In other words, Beijing is now using the city as a diplomatic tool.
This is part of Beijing’s shift to a visibly more assertive stance on the international stage, the prime example being recent moves to split ASEAN and militarily intimidate individual countries over China’s extravagant territorial claims in the South China Sea. The assumption among overseas observers is that a successful leadership change in Beijing later this year requires a satisfied and acquiescent public, which means absolutely no concessions to evil foreign countries. There is also a theory that the more aggressive posture is being stoked by the People’s Liberation Army’s demands for a bigger say in policymaking.
It would be comforting to think that this is temporary, and that by end-2013 the new leadership will be settled in and China will go back to being a relatively warm and cuddly regional player. But even if they could contrive a way to do that in Beijing, it would have to be mirrored in Japan and ASEAN countries, which have their own, anti-Chinese, nationalist sentiments strengthening. To complicate things, there’s also the Takeshima/Tokdo Islands tiff between Japan and Korea. And there’s the United States. The most hawkish Chinese general must know that while his nation’s forces might look good in a National Day parade, they would quite likely be a humiliating embarrassment under fire. At least we should hope he does.
China’s employment of Hong Kong as a small but perfectly formed new instrument of foreign affairs may also reflect the fact that the city now has a leader willing and able to play the role, and no doubt with relish. It would be hard to imagine Sir Donald Tsang ordering a foreign diplomat to come in for a good dressing down and spouting off about Chinese territory. Again, it would be nice to think this is temporary; the city’s de facto neutrality as a semi-autonomous region is important. 
You can’t be the Switzerland of Asia if you get dragged into all of China’s barbarian-bashing, victimhood trips and more-or-less racism.
The Standard’s ‘Mary Ma’ column has fun wondering if the CE’s new role will lose the pan-democrats votes in next month’s Legislative Council election. Launching military action – or at least encouraging a rickety ship full of activists – against another country is a time-honoured way to get a boost in the opinion polls. And there is something pathetic about Democratic Party leader Albert Ho failing in his legal attempt to remove the CE from office just as CY emerges as an international statesman avenging China’s suffering during World War II. Next thing, all those people opposing National Education will drop to their knees and read out self-criticisms for their incorrect thinking.
Aside 1: Fans of Bunny Chan, the ultimate shoe-shiner of the Donald Tsang era, have been wondering what their hero has been up to recently. I can pass on the word that, in his capacity as Chairman of something called the Youth Commission, he is concerned about a spate of panic attacks sweeping Hong Kong’s middle class, for which he blames property prices. And why not?
Aside 2: This is an ad (not sure what the product is, but that’s not the point) in today’s South China Morning Post. Let’s remember that the purpose of these things is to make you want to buy something…
Click to hear the Seekers’ ‘Island of Dreams’!
Keep Asia divided and each country at the others’ throats. British foreign policy since 1947.
ARRESTED
(A.Cooper/B.Lugosi)
Elections are coming, I’ve got no choice,
I wanna be arrested,
Pseudo Chinese patriot with a whining voice,
I wanna be arrested,
China needs a saviour, but gets a fake,
I wanna be arrested,
Stay on the island and give us a break,
I wanna be arrested, arrested, arrested.
From RTHK Radio 3’s new album of Ray Cordeiro evergreens:
RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET.
The demonstrators are ‘heroes’ in The Standard and ‘activists’ in the SCMP (my quotes). I’d give the SCMP another couple of years before it is a completely lost cause….
Is it Beijing pushing CY Leung or has he just seen what he thinks is an opportunity to look good and take the attention off his administrations problems for a while?
If the pan democrats can keep their mouths shut the tactic may well backfire, given that the HK people are well able to recognize diversions when they see them.
At least CY followed the correct protocol. Unlike Donald who rang the Philippine President, who didn’t take his call, and then threw himself into hissy fit with a, still to be lifted, black travel ban.
Mary Ma (Sing Tao Editorial) was hilarious or troubling – “Pan Dems into a corner” and “common external enemy” – is Tobacco Charles fitting some bofors on his yacht ?
So Astronauts, China’s Olympians and now Skirmish = Pro Dem smiting on the 9 September. Mind you Tobacco Charles has been wrong before !
Aside 2: that’s not an ad. It’s Bela’s groupies. What’s with the tragic songwriting anyway?
Since HK is a mere ‘city’, then it’s a bit like Kunming or Harbin summoning the evil US barbarian consul-general and for good measure setting up their own Department of Foreign Affairs. If this isn’t splittist behaviour, then what is?
I’ve always wondered whether HK’s ambassadors look after people like you and me: now I know from the press-release that their role is rather to protect all ‘other’ Chinese people, yea down to the sixth generation.
One boat protest good, two legs bad? Seriously, CY carpeting the consul general is something akin to the Duchy of Grand Fenwick in ‘the mouse that roared’.
Seriously though folks. Doesn’t the basic law say that foreign affairs are the responsibility of Beijing under 2 thinggys whatever system? In which case, why is CY interfering in China’s affairs by getting huffy about Pugwash & co? He has hurt the feeling of everyone in my local 7-11.
Has CY moved into Govt House yet, or has he been too busy supervising trellis demolition work up on Peel Rise? The latter address is actually quite handy for visits to the Japanese Consul’s residence, higher up. I often say I’m going there when the police otherwise block traffic from going any higher up the Peak than the Peak Galleria on Sundays. Its Japanese flag must be the highest-flying national flag in Hong Kong.
A good post Hemlock and a good summary.
darovia is quite correct.
The Japanese consul had a right to refuse but I think in the interests of face, he gave CY a hearing.
Apart from that, he probably thinks that the guy is a prat of the first order!!
I hope the activists’ boat sinks.
This is CY’s Falkland Islands ! What a chance
Next step will be 2 HK police boats steaming to invade Okinawa …
Hey ho, hey ho, it’s off to war we go….
STOP PRESS !
Japan recallsits consul general to HK together with all sushi chefs.
HK retaliates by sending in Sonia A-terrible-O at full twang
Japan retaliates by banning exports of hello kitty dolls to HK.
HK capitulates immediately
No more cider for you !!
What a terrible way to celebrate 100 years before Doraemon’s birthday …
Be careful what you wish for.