> What leverage does HK have besides taking to the streets every few years?
Beijing is violating an agreement lodged with the UN.
The protesters just need to get the population in a G7 country pissed off enough to turn this bill into an international issue, thereby increasing the cost of its introduction to Beijing.
> Beijing is violating an agreement lodged with the UN.
Oh how I wish this mattered, but the UN has time and time again proven itself to be the world's most expensive essay-writing club and little more. What exactly are they going to do?
People seem to mistake the UN for what is truely meant to be.
The UN is not some government which can enforce agreements. Its mainly a "meeting room" for global and local powers to resolve conflict if they wish.
At the end of the day, this is still hugely important to prevent unnecessary war or conflict, but the UN is still bound by the actual realities on the ground, not the legal framework that sits above the reality.
What having an agreement lodged with the UN does is properly escalate this into an international issue. That makes it easier for governments to react. Those reactions could be harshly-worded statements, diplomatic mediation or even the threat of sanctions.
It can act very decisively and strongly... when it's not trying to go against the interests of a veto-holding member of the Security Council. Can do a lot to Iran, can't do a lot about China.
USA is taking China on for violating WTO. The result is everyone saying it could be WW3. I don't think any other country will dare challenge China alone
Beijing is violating an agreement lodged with the UN.
The protesters just need to get the population in a G7 country pissed off enough to turn this bill into an international issue, thereby increasing the cost of its introduction to Beijing.