From Bloomberg…
China signaled greater efforts ahead to protect national security in Hong Kong after the sentencing of Jimmy Lai renewed foreign governments’ calls for the former media mogul’s release.
Beijing’s State Council on Tuesday outlined a vision to strengthen security in key economic pillars of the semi-autonomous Chinese city, naming finance and shipping among areas of focus as it called for a “holistic approach to development and security.”
“Greater attention should be given to security in unconventional areas such as finance, shipping, trade, and the protection of overseas interests,” according to a 2026 white paper published by the information office of China’s cabinet.
…The white paper also called on authorities to improve systems for countering foreign sanctions, intervention and long-arm jurisdiction, without naming any country. “Risk monitoring and early warning systems should be improved to effectively defuse major risks,” it added.
…Beijing has also accused the US of coercing Panama into voiding CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s contract to operate two ports near the Panama Canal, which the Hong Kong company has run since 1997. US President Donald Trump has previously vowed to take the strategic waterway “back”
…Following the sentencing, the British government opened the door for thousands more Hong Kongers to settle in the UK and apply for British citizenship — an expansion it says honors the UK’s “historic commitment” to people in the former British colony.
The Chinese embassy in London has slammed the expansion as “despicable,” urging the UK to cease its “political manipulation” and stop intervening in Hong Kong affairs — or face “bitter consequences.”
Is this a Leninist thing? The more you control, the more paranoid you get about having insufficient control?
CK Hutchison had few problems until it decided to sell off its ports around the world, at which point Beijing insisted that it sell the Panama assets only to a Chinese-linked company. So much for One Country, Two Systems. That confirmed – to Washington at least – suspicions that Beijing wanted influence over those ports, triggering US/Panama moves to override CK’s contract to operate the facilities.
As for the UK’s decision to allow more Hongkongers the right to move to the UK: that is surely a sovereign right of the British government and nothing to do with any other country. If China wants to grant residency to the entire British population, that is its right. The government in London would have no say in the matter. If (say) Botswana offers residency to all Paraguayan teenagers – so what? Where is the ‘despicable political manipulation and intervening in internal affairs’? Unless you believe your citizens are the property of the emperor.
A good AP story on how the Tai Po fire survivors are faring.