China on Thursday issued a video threat to Hong Kong protesters. This reflects my warning last week that Beijing is moving toward crushing the protests with its military.
The newly released video certainly isn’t shy in making that message.
Showing the Peoples Liberation Army’s various branches in training exercises, the video takes pains to focus on counterprotester operations. In an ominous homage to the Tiananmen Square massacre, one protest-focused scene shows armored obstacle-clearance vehicles. A soldier leading riot troops warns protesters, “All consequences are at your own risk!” Later in the video another soldier shouts “annihilated” as munitions destroy their targets.
As I say, the messaging isn’t exactly subtle.
But it does reflect Xi Jinping’s great anger and concern over what is happening in Hong Kong.
As Beijing sees it, the the state’s supremacy is steadily being degraded. Hong Kong, it fears, could be the inspiration to other insurrectionist movements on the mainland. But even if not, Hong Kong portrays China in a way that Xi despises: uncertain and lacking control.
One thing the video omits, however, is Chinese intelligence officers in Hong Kong. While China’s Ministry of State Security operates a bureau on Hong Kong soil, it has significantly boosted its operational presence in support and de facto direction of the Hong Kong police. The MSS’ hand can be seen in the increasing role of violent mafia-associated counter-forces in attacking protesters. This effort will have been complemented with PLA signal intelligence units tasked with helping the police arrest protest ringleaders.
Regardless, this video makes clear that China is growing impatient. It is sadly inevitable that the protests will either cool or Beijing will crush them. You can watch the video below.
Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/chinas-ominous-video-threat-to-hong-kong-protesters
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