On July 23, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech titled “Communist China and the Free World’s Future” at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in California. Half a century ago, then-US president Nixon was the icebreaker in Sino-US relations. 50 years on, President Donald Trump is doing whatever it takes to decouple America from China. 

As early as Oct 4, 2018, US Vice-President Mike Pence announced a tough China policy which could be viewed as a declaration of a “new Cold War” against China. Two years later, similar anti-China speeches were delivered by the likes of Pompeo, US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Attorney General William Barr, which are signs of a rapidly unfolding “new Cold War”. 

The way Pence was attacking China and Beijing indicated an adjustment in US China policy. Pompeo, however, took a step further to finger-point at the Communist Party of China and to openly acknowledge a global anti-China alliance is underway. In its latest move to antagonize China, Washington ordered the closure of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, the first to be established on US soil, symbolizing the beginning of diplomatic ties between the two countries. 

The United Kingdom, on the other hand, is actively facilitating the US’ move to build an anti-China alliance, with London unveiling its new special visa plan for Hong Kong’s BN(O) passport holders on July 22. Starting next year, the passport holders and their close family members will be eligible to apply for the visa, which gives them the option to stay in the UK for 30 months (renewable by a second application for a further 30 months), or alternatively apply for a five-year stay from the outset. Either way, upon the completion of five years of residency, they will be eligible to apply for UK citizenship after another 12 months’ settlement in Britain. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson banned Huawei from its 5G telecommunication network, citing “potential risks” from the Chinese government.

Washington’s attempt to forestall the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not succeed. China, with a civilization of more than 5,000 years, has sufficient wisdom and courage to block this attempt. Chinese people, including millions of their compatriots in the HKSAR, will surely march forward despite the difficulties and obstacles ahead

The vilification campaign launched by the US against China has been abominable. In its latest report “Understanding CCP Resilience: Surveying Chinese Public Opinion Through Time”, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School revealed that, in the surveying period from 2003 to 2016, Chinese citizens were not only highly satisfied with the CPC and the Chinese central government, the approval rating also continued to climb to as high as 93.1 percent in 2016.

Conceivably, Washington’s attempt to forestall the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not succeed. China, with a civilization of more than 5,000 years, has sufficient wisdom and courage to block this attempt. Chinese people, including millions of their compatriots in the HKSAR, will surely march forward despite the difficulties and obstacles ahead. 

Hong Kong people should not underestimate the impact on Hong Kong from Britain’s active cooperation with the US in implementing the “new Cold War” against China. Hong Kong must proactively adjust and brace itself for the new challenges.

It is imperative that the SAR government take the lead in demonstrating that Hong Kong cannot operate alone and away from the Chinese mainland. Trump announced not long ago that Hong Kong would be treated the same as the Chinese mainland, implying that Hong Kong will also be targeted in the “new Cold War”. The move has surprised many in Hong Kong, including American entrepreneurs in the city. Indeed, a year and a half ago, Tara Joseph, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, asserted it was merely a“distant risk” when the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission suggested revoking Hong Kong’s special status as a separate customs territory in 2018. Now, not only has it been stripped of its special treatment, Hong Kong is treated with no less hostility than the Chinese mainland. 

In response to the UK’s Hong Kong BN(O) visa program, Beijing announced that it might stop recognizing BN(O) passports as valid travel documents.

It is suggested that Beijing is only taking a symbolic countermeasure, since many BN(O) passport holders also possess the HKSAR or foreign passports. Such view is only skin-deep. 

London’s BN(O) visa program is part of a broader effort in assisting the US to strengthen its anti-China alliance. If Beijing does not recognize the validity of BN(O) passports, it will for sure establish a new law that declares the HKSAR passport as the sole valid travel document for all Chinese nationals residing in Hong Kong. Whether other countries abide by this new regulation or continue to recognize the validity of BN(O) passport will hinge on the rivalry between China and Britain and the US on a global scale. 

By then, Hong Kong residents will have to choose between forgoing their BN(O) passport and making use of the special visa plan to settle in Britain. According to UK figures, approximately 3.4 million Hong Kong residents registered for BN(O) status. About 2.9 million of them are still alive, which accounts for 39 percent of the total 7.5 million population in Hong Kong. Their decisions are likely to have an impact on the local economic, political and social situation; the more people that choose to stay, the lesser the impact would be.

The author is a senior research fellow of China Everbright Holdings.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.