In the case of Hong Kong, the chief spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Col. Wu Qian, cited the protests on Sunday outside the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, which protesters painted with graffiti, suggesting that instances of destructive behavior were straining Beijing’s patience.
“The behavior of some radical protesters challenges the central government’s authority, touching on the bottom line principle of ‘one country, two systems,’” Colonel Wu said during a news conference in Beijing unveiling the new strategy. “That absolutely cannot be tolerated.”
He pointedly cited the specific article in a law detailing relations between the city and Beijing that allows the People’s Liberation Army to intervene, when requested by Hong Kong’s leaders, to maintain order or assist in cases of natural disasters.
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