Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Setting the stage for the cavalry

Video: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam withdraws extradition bill

No, it is not enough. But that is the plan. She is just setting the stage. 釜底抽薪。

First, she has taken away the main reason for the protests: the extradition bill. This shifts the moral high ground away from the protestors.

Next, she has said that she will disclose all investigations about police action. That is basically a projection of the "we are open, there is nothing to hide" image. An image of calm and compromise that is in contrast to the mass mobs of the protestors.

Then, she goes on to say those arrested will be dealt with according to the law because to do otherwise would be against the rule of law. Brilliant move; real democracies cannot contradict this statement, even though it probably means those arrested will be charged and jailed.

Throughout this whole incident, the government has gone all out to maintain the moral high ground in the eyes of the international community. Why? I think it is because they are setting the stage. Setting the stage for stronger action should the protestors continue with their protests.

And when the time is right, when the groundwork has been properly laid, the cavalry will come in. By then, if the government has played their cards right, most of the international community would be on their side.

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