Self-Determination

Is Threatening to Mobilize the PLA in Hong Kong More Than Just a Threat?

Brian Hioe
The Chinese Ministry of Defense’s chief spokesperson, senior colonel Wu Qian, stated in comments earlier today that the People’s Liberation Army could be deployed in Hong Kong to put down demonstrations against the Beijing-backed extradition bill at the request of the Hong Kong government. What does this mean for protests, going forward?...
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements12 min read

Violent Attacks on Anti-Extradition Bill Demonstrators from Gangsters, Police in Hong Kong

Brian Hioe
Attacks by individuals thought to be pro-Beijing gangsters on anti-extradition bill demonstrators took place late last night in Hong Kong, coming on the heels of a protest march called for by the Civil Human Rights Front which organizers stated drew 430,000. The end of the rally also saw riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators and police later turned a blind eye to the assaults on demonstrators by gangsters...
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements13 min read

Swift Action from the Tsai Administration Needed Regarding Hong Kong Asylum Seekers

Brian Hioe
Taiwan's lack of any formal asylum policy—with no formalized process for processing applications by asylum seekers—is likely to be tested in the near future, with the Apple Daily reporting that thirty Hong Kong protesters have fled to Taiwan in the aftermath of the attempted occupation of LegCo on July 1st. According to the Apple Daily, another wave of more than thirty Hong Kong protesters are considering fleeing to Taiwan in the near future....
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements11 min read

Over 200,000 Demonstrate Against Extradition Bill Outside of West Kowloon Station

Brian Hioe
Hundreds of thousands demonstrated outside of the West Kowloon rail station today, the first major demonstration of protests against the extradition bill to take place on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong harbor. The protest had the unusual focus of attempting to outreach to Chinese nationals. Following what is now a familiar pattern, after nightfall, clashes with police broke out ...
Alex YunEnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements9 min read

Discursive Struggle Breaks out Between Democracy Activists and Hong Kong Government on Framing of LegCo Invasion

Brian Hioe
What should be self-apparent is that in the aftermath of the brief occupation of LegCo in Hong Kong Monday, a discursive battle is currently being fought between pro-democracy activists and government officials regarding the framing of the occupation attempt. Hong Kong government officials have, unsurprisingly, attempted to depict activists as a violent and irrational mob. On the other hand, pro-democracy activists have pointed to the fact that demonstrators were pushed into taking an extreme form of action because of the refusal of the government to back down, that demonstrators were not violent, and that there is no comparing the physical violence used against peaceful demonstrators by riot police to property damage within LegCo...
EnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements9 min read

Brief Occupation of LegCo Takes Place in Hong Kong, Prompting Some Comparisons to the Sunflower Movement

Brian Hioe
Demonstrations in Hong Kong against the extradition bill and commemorating the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from British control to Chinese control saw an unexpected turn earlier tonight with the brief occupation of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council for several hours, before protesters eventually withdrew from the building...
Alex YunEnglishJuly 2019Self-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements9 min read