Hong Kong Shuts Down Airport as Tensions Rise in Protests
The Primary: Tensions continue to escalate as thousands of Hong Kongers defy orders to stop protesting.
Who? What? Why?: The protests began over an extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kongers to be tried in mainland China. The Hong Kong leader, Carrie Lam, said the bill was "dead" but protesters don't believe it, per Axios. The demands are also expanding, with Hong Kongers advocating for democratic reform.
The Baseline: The protests have caused flight delays and shut down the airport entirely. The protests have turned violent, with police clashing with citizens. This is the tenth straight weekend Hong Kong has protested.
From the Left: China has "misread" the protests from the start, argues the Washington Post editorial board. Now, it's time to "get it right." When the protests started, Lam should have killed the bill right away. Also, government officials were wrong to assume the protests would simply "flare out." "The protests are a political groundswell, a reflection of genuine popular anger and commitment to democracy," the board writes.
From the Right: Kristina Olney of the National Review wants the U.S. to respond. "It is now unclear whether a free Hong Kong can survive," she writes. Congress should pass a bill that would provide oversight and address the abuse by Beijing.