(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) In November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. What would the world be like if instead of East Germans gaining the freedom of West Germans, on the contrary, the East German communist authoritarian regime took control of West Germany and implemented the "National Security Law" in West Germany, arresting and severely jailing anyone who dared to criticize the East German government and call for the restoration of West Germany's freedom?
Joshua Wong: "Hong Kong is the new Berlin"
In September 2019, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Joshua Wong, one of the leaders of the Hong Kong resistance movement, visited Berlin. In his speech, he warned: "If this is the new Cold War, then Hong Kong is the new Berlin." What is sad is that Berliners are busy celebrating "historical victory" and avoiding real difficulties. They are watching the "new Berlin" Hong Kong fall, and the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian regime wantonly erodes the free world.
On Thursday (November 5), Joshua Wong was charged with "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and endanger national security" and was sentenced to another 10 years in prison. Having been imprisoned for nearly six years, he was originally expected to be released from prison in January next year, but now he will sit until the end of 2036. According to Hong Kong media reports, the presiding judge, Tam Yiu-ho, said that Huang Zhifeng's "crimes were serious" and said that "Hong Kong was severely affected by social unrest at the time of the crime." "The defendant conspired with Luo Guancong and others to continue to contact foreign officials or institutions and call for sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials."
Merely calling for sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials who are doing evil is punishable by ten years in prison. Such a cruel verdict just confirms the urgency of Huang's appeal and the consequences of being ignored by the West: how crazy an authoritarian regime that cannot be sanctioned will hate human rights and freedom.
The historical absurd drama of East Germany’s annexation of West Germany’s free world
The German newspaper DIE WELT published a comment, "He is defending the West, but the West is becoming dull, cowardly and degenerate." The author (Poschardt) Ulf Poschardt profoundly pointed out that Joshua Wong defends Western values, that is, freedom. Joshua Wong reminds people where the real conflict of this era lies. That is freedom: the freedom of the individual and the courage to stand up to authoritarian systems and dictatorships.
However, the West itself is at risk of growing dull, cowardly and degenerate: arguing over trivial matters and remaining silent on matters of principle.
Pochart criticized: "The West is abandoning freedom fighters. Ukraine is a typical example, as are Venezuela, Turkey, and Iran, and China is even more so." He believes that China cannot be a partner of the West in any field; whether it is personal freedom and human rights standards, or democratic constitutionalism, China is the enemy of the West.
Yes, the West has turned its back on Joshua Wong and is also turning its back on its own beliefs. I would also like to further point out that the West has paid the price for this betrayal and will continue to pay the price. The historical absurd drama of East Germany crossing the Berlin Wall and annexing the free world of West Germany is now unfolding.
The Consequences of Bush Sr.’s Betrayal of the June 4th Pro-democracy Fighters
The West’s betrayal of freedom fighters did not begin today. After the June 4th massacre, the CCP was not punished as it should have been, which was one of the great humiliations. In 1989, Chinese students opened the door to a new world with their blood and lives; then, brave Eastern Europeans continued to fight until the Berlin Wall fell. Westerners who were eager to celebrate victory declared the end of the Cold War, but slammed the door shut and pretended that the world was unified.
The day after the massacre, on June 5, 1989, then-U.S. President George H.W. Bush said at a press conference that now was "not the time for emotional response," but for "reasoned, careful action," taking into account the United States' "long-term interests" and "recognition of a complex internal situation in China."
He then turned his back on China's thousands of freedom fighters, eager to reconnect with Deng Xiaoping. When Deng Xiaoping did not answer his calls, he wrote a letter in person; after Deng Xiaoping replied and agreed to receive the emissary, in early July, he secretly sent National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger to Beijing to meet directly with Deng Xiaoping.
I have asked many times in my articles: More than thirty years have passed, where does Bush Sr. say the "long-term interests" of the United States lie? Is it breeding tigers that will make the CCP so powerful that it deprives Hong Kong of freedom and threatens the freedom of the West? Is it to make Western politicians tremble in front of the CCP and not even dare to mention the word "human rights"? Are Western entrepreneurs going to China to bow their heads and be forced to share key technologies?
Today, the West has turned its back on Joshua Wong. Do we have to wait another thirty years to find out what kind of punishment the “slow, cowardly and depraved” West will receive?
Changping is a senior media person and current affairs commentator. He is currently a columnist for Deutsche Welle, executive editor of China Digital Times, and chief curator of the June Fourth Memory·Human Rights Museum.
