China’s military is amassing outside of Hong Kong, setting the groundwork for military operations in the Chinese territory.
Protests have rocked Hong Kong for months in opposition to a proposed extradition law that would allow Hong Kong citizens accused of criminal acts to be extradited to mainland China to face trial. Protesters have called for the law to be scrapped, and some have demanded full autonomy from China.
Beijing’s latest response to protesters came as a grave threat issued Tuesday morning through state-run media, saying Hong Kong citizens are “asking for self-destruction,” according to CNBC. Dozens of Chinese military vehicles have rolled into Shenzhen, a city less than 20 miles outside of Hong Kong.
Disturbing video taken in #Shenzhen just across the boarder with #HongKong. Something extraordinarily bad is about happen. #China #HongKongProtests #Democracy #SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/Gad5R5HVZL
— Alexandre Krauss (@AlexandreKrausz) August 12, 2019
Chinese police are already carrying out enforcement actions in the city. Some officers have dressed in plain clothes and mixed with the Hong Kong protesters to take citizens by surprise. In some instances, the officers have started violence in the protesters’ ranks only to have armored policemen run in make arrests.
A group of plainclothes officers, disguised as protesters, launched a surprise operation to arrest protesters outside SOGO department store in Causeway Bay. At least a dozen were arrested. The officers refused to answer reporters’ questions on their identity.#HongKong #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/P3WzYCJdu7
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) August 11, 2019
President Trump reacted to the situation in Hong Kong on Tuesday, telling reporters, “we’ll see what happens.”
