Julie Eadeh’s return to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as United States consul-general has raised questions about Washington’s commitment to respect China’s sovereignty and the SAR’s hard-won stability.
Her immediate outreach to figures like Anson Chan Fang On-sang, despite their well-documented history of soliciting foreign interference, represents not diplomatic engagement, but a calculated provocation that Hong Kong can ill afford to tolerate.
Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR Cui Jianchun’s measured, yet firm response, to Eadeh’s courtesy call has delivered an unmistakable message: The era of unchecked US meddling in Hong Kong affairs has ended. Cui’s reminder that the diplomat must conduct herself “in a manner befitting her diplomatic status” and refrain from interfering in China’s internal affairs has established clear boundaries that any responsible diplomat would respect.
The parallels between Eadeh’s current activities and her conduct during the 2019-20 turmoil in Hong Kong are impossible to ignore. Six years ago, as the head of the US consulate’s political section, she was photographed meeting with protest leaders at Conrad Hotel just before the violence escalated dramatically. Now, having been elevated to the post of US consul general in the HKSAR, she seems determined to reconnect with the same network of local opposition figures who had once brought chaos to Hong Kong’s streets.
Consider the international context. When Russia’s diplomatic activities in Washington involve meetings with opposition figures, US officials would cry foul about foreign interference. When Chinese diplomats engage with civil society groups in European capitals, they face immediate scrutiny and restrictions. Yet, somehow, the US expects its representatives to operate with no boundaries in Hong Kong, treating the city as if it were still under colonial administration, rather than an integral part of China.
Hong Kong’s transformation since 2020 represents more than legislative change. It reflects a fundamental shift in how the city protects its interests. The National Security Law for Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance have created a robust legal framework that mirrors provisions in democratic nations worldwide. Britain’s Official Secrets Act, the US Foreign Agent Registration Act, and Australia’s foreign interference laws all establish similar protection against external manipulation.
And, some nations have demonstrated far less patience with diplomatic overreach. In 2021, Russia expelled 10 US diplomats for “unfriendly actions”. Turkiye declared 10 Western ambassadors persona non grata for making political statements. Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua have all taken decisive action against US diplomatic personnel who had exceeded their mandates. These precedents underscore that Hong Kong’s warnings to Eadeh reflect remarkable restraint, not overreaction.
The timing of Eadeh’s appointment itself deserves scrutiny. As Hong Kong accelerates its integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and strengthens its role in national development, the arrival of someone dubbed a “professional subversion expert” suggests that Washington remains committed to its containment strategy against China. Her extensive background in Middle Eastern hotspots, where American intervention has consistently bred instability, hardly qualifies her as a “bridge-builder”.
Hong Kong residents haven’t forgotten the devastating consequences of the 2019-20 riots, the paralyzed airport that stranded thousands of travelers, the vandalized MTR stations that disrupted millions of commuters, and the shuttered businesses that destroyed livelihoods. When residents spontaneously protested outside the US consulate in Hong Kong against Eadeh’s behavior, they expressed the collective determination to never allow such chaos to return.
The economic implications of renewed instability would be catastrophic. Hong Kong’s recovery from both the 2019-20 turmoil and the COVID-19 pandemic has required enormous effort. International businesses are returning, tourists are rediscovering the city, and investor confidence is rebuilding. Any attempt to reignite political tensions threatens not just social harmony, but the economic welfare of more than seven million residents.
Eadeh’s claim that she aims to “promote positive engagement” between the US and Hong Kong rings hollow when her first instinct is to court figures who actively sought US sanctions against their own city. Genuine diplomatic engagement would involve meeting with business leaders, cultural organizations and community groups, and not individuals who had lobbied foreign governments to punish Hong Kong.
The path forward is clear. If the US genuinely values its relationship with China, it must demonstrate this through actions, not rhetoric. This means lifting the unjust sanctions that harm ordinary Hong Kong residents, respecting the city’s governance system, and ensuring its diplomatic personnel operate within appropriate boundaries.
Hong Kong has proved its resilience repeatedly throughout history. It has weathered financial crises, health emergencies and political storms. Each challenge has ultimately strengthened its resolve and clarified its priorities. Today’s Hong Kong is more confident, more integrated with the motherland, and more determined to chart its own course than ever before.
The message to Eadeh and Washington is unambiguous -- Hong Kong’s stability is non-negotiable, its prosperity is paramount, and its future lies firmly within China’s embrace. Those who respect these realities will find opportunities for constructive engagement. Those who challenge them will find that Hong Kong, backed by the full weight of national laws and public support, will protect its interests with unwavering determination.
The author is convenor at China Retold, a member of the Legislative Council, and a member of the Central Committee of the New People’s Party.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
