Kevin Lin is a labor activist and researcher on China.
Taiwanese voters are going to the polls tomorrow for presidential elections as protests continue to rage in Hong Kong. But in order to understand Taiwan, we have to understand the power of China — and the looming shadow of US imperialism.
Hong Kong’s government just withdrew the anti–civil liberties bill that set off massive, rolling protests and convulsed the city for months. But the political crisis is bigger than one measure — and protesters could be emboldened to push for even more.
Massive demonstrations in Hong Kong have forced the government to shelve a bill that could muzzle dissident voices. But the protesters are still on the streets — and they’re demanding the resignation of Hong Kong’s chief executive.
Hong Kong’s government tried to rush through a bill that would limit civil liberties. Instead they triggered a tidal wave of protests — some of the largest in modern history.
The Chinese state’s intervention after the stock market crash was immensely political — as was the collapse itself.
Workers must play a decisive role in Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution if movement demands are to go beyond political rights.