We've been keeping an eye on the situation in Hong Kong since last year, when hundreds of thousands of mostly youthful Hong Kongers hit the streets to demonstrate for increased autonomy and democracy. About a week ago, China's response arrived in the form of a very powerful new National Security Law, the import of which can be boiled down to one word: NOPE. In terms of basic freedoms like speaking one's mind, access to a jury trial, and warrants being required for searches, Hong Kongers literally went to sleep in the West on June 30 and woke up in Xi Jinping's China on July 1. What does this mean for Hong Kong's unique position between East and West? How about China's relationship with Western democracies, which has been under increasing strain in recent years? Steve and Pete elucidate (hey, that almost rhymes)!

Futher Reading:

1. Hong Kong, Changed Overnight, Navigates Its New Reality
2. What Hong Kong Losing Its ‘Special Status’ Would Mean
3. China’s draconian security law for Hong Kong buries one country, two systems
4. Hong Kong activists are holding up blank signs because China now has the power to define pro-democracy slogans as terrorism

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