The struggle over Hong Kong seems headed toward stalemate. But while the Hong Kongers can tolerate not winning in the short term, the CCP is worried that they are not losing.

The mass protests in Hong Kong ignited by the Extradition Law Amendment Bill (ELAB) have been raging for half a year and are evolving into a broad-based democracy movement, a movement that has become a classic example of pursuing democracy with broad support and participation, nimble tactics, and indomitable spirit.

Two things have been clear from the beginning: First, neither the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) nor the Hong Kong government would respond positively to the protests and the protestors would experience increasingly harsh suppression. Second, it would be impossible for CCP and the local authorities to completely silence the protestors. This portends that in the near future, the tug-of-war between the Hong Kong government and the protestors will…

(read more at: https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/12/13/hong-kongs-long-view/)