BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts have criticized U.S. congressional committees' recent approval of the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 as gross interference in China's internal affairs and application of a double standard on the issues of "human rights" and "democracy" with an aim to use Hong Kong to contain China.
Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland 22 years ago, the policies of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been fully implemented in the region, with its residents enjoying unprecedented rights and freedoms, said Shen Yamei, deputy director of the Department for American Studies of the China Institute of International Studies.
This is in sharp contrast with the period of British rule when Hong Kong residents had no right to elect the Hong Kong governor and could not influence the governor's work, Shen said, calling the U.S. intervention in Hong Kong affairs with a bill "unpersuasive."
The situation in Hong Kong, which originated from proposed ordinance amendments concerning fugitives, has gone completely awry over the past three months as radical elements, under the instigation and support of external and anti-China forces, assaulted police officers, beat and detained residents and tourists and used petrol bombs, seriously trampling the rule of law, disturbing public order, undermining security and encroaching upon freedoms and rights of others, said Victor Gao, a director of the China National Association of International Studies.
"Do these totally violent and even terrorist-style acts represent the 'democracy' and 'human rights' advocated by the Western world and supported by the U.S. congressional move?" Gao asked.
The United States has a poor human rights record itself, in areas including the rich-poor gap, social security, racial discrimination and uneven development of different regions, but likes to tell others what to do, reflecting its double-standard mentality, according to Shen.
Echoing Shen's views, Jin Canrong, deputy head of the School of International Studies of Renmin University of China, said the United States has a habit of applying double standards to its allies and non-allies on the issues of "democracy" and "human rights."
The United States, relying on its comprehensive national strength and influence, always acts as a "global referee," arbitrarily defining whether other countries have "democracy" and "human rights," Jin said. Driven by power politics, the United States wantonly tramples on international law and the basic norms governing international relations by doing so, he added.
What is the United States' intention in speaking out selectively when Hong Kong is concerned?
Wang Xiaofeng, analyst with the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, said U.S. politicians do not care at all about the interests, wellbeing or human rights of Hong Kong residents but try to use the bill as a threat to force the Chinese government to make concessions in favor of the United States.
"They are eager to see tensions in Hong Kong turn the region into a permanent source of chaos so as to further contain China," Wang said.
