中文
By Jessica Durdu
As the U.S. consul general in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh holds a position that should embody the principles of mutual respect, professionalism, and non-interference, the core norms of international diplomacy enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Yet her recent conduct suggests a disregard for these standards.
Extending repeated invitations to individuals known for opposing China and trying to destabilize Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) not only breaches diplomatic propriety but also risks exacerbating tensions in a city where stability has been hard won after years of turmoil. Diplomatic events are meant to foster dialogue and cooperation, not to serve as platforms for encouraging forces hostile to the host nation's sovereignty.
China has made consistent efforts to restore prosperity and stability in HKSAR following the turbulence of 2019, and the international business community has taken note. The city's recovery is visible in its resumed role as a global financial hub, with cross-border capital flows, restored investor confidence, and international recognition of its robust legal system.
At a time when Hong Kong is seeking to consolidate this progress, the U.S. should contribute to constructive exchanges rather than attempting to use the special administrative region as a pawn in its broader containment strategy toward China.
History has shown that using local actors to create political leverage is a short-sighted tactic. From Latin America during the Cold War to the Middle East in more recent decades, interventions of this kind have only deepened instability and eroded the credibility of those who instigated them.
Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, responded on September 30, underlining China's firm stance that interference in Hong Kong affairs will not be tolerated. His articulation of the "Four Don'ts" – not to meet people Eadeh "shouldn't meet with," not to collude with "anti-China forces," not to assist or fund activities that might undermine the city's stability, and not to interfere with national security cases in Hong Kong – was a clear reminder of the boundaries set by international law.
The U.S. government frequently frames its actions in HKSAR under the banner of "democracy promotion," but such narratives fail to recognize Hong Kong's legal and political realities under the "one country, two systems" framework.
A ship carrying the slogan "celebrating the passage of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR" in Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, July 1, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Hong Kong Basic Law ensures rights and freedoms for Hong Kong residents while safeguarding national security, an equilibrium comparable to other legal systems worldwide that prioritize security alongside liberty. By choosing to associate with anti-China figures, Eadeh disregards this legal foundation and sends the signal that Washington does not view HKSAR's stability as valuable in its own right, but only insofar as it can be instrumentalized against Beijing.
Such actions also stand in sharp contrast to broader calls for China-U.S. cooperation at the global level. The world economy is struggling with inflation, supply chain disruptions, and climate challenges that demand collaboration between the two largest economies. Recent interactions, such as the phone conversations between the Chinese and American presidents, emphasize the need to prevent competition from veering into conflict and highlight avenues for cooperation.
Against this backdrop, the posture of the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong appears not only unconstructive but self-defeating, undermining the very stability that could enable mutually beneficial economic ties.
Additionally, the international community has repeatedly acknowledged that Hong Kong's resilience as a financial hub is crucial for global economic growth. The International Monetary Fund's 2023 assessment praised Hong Kong's sound macroeconomic policies and robust financial sector, noting its role as a bridge between China and the world.
Undermining this stability for geopolitical gain risks fragmenting global financial networks, discouraging investment, and further destabilizing an already fragile global economy. It also contradicts Washington's stated interest in a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific, which is indispensable to U.S. trade and strategic interests.
Ultimately, diplomacy is most effective when it adheres to trust, respect, and the principles of sovereign equality. Julie Eadeh's record, both as head of the consulate's political section during the 2019 unrest and now as consul general, suggests a troubling continuity in using her post to court forces openly hostile to China's authority in Hong Kong SAR.
This undermines the very foundation of constructive China-U.S. relations. If Washington is sincere about stabilizing bilateral ties and promoting global economic recovery, it must refrain from treating the Hong Kong SAR as a bargaining chip in great-power rivalry.
A forward-looking approach would prioritize dialogue, expand cultural and business exchanges, and respect the principle that domestic affairs are not arenas for foreign interference.
The prosperity and stability Hong Kong enjoys today were not achieved easily; they represent the culmination of resilience, reform, and careful governance. Jeopardizing this with reckless "diplomatic" conduct only weakens the possibility of cooperative global leadership. The U.S. must recognize that engagement rooted in respect, not manipulation, is the only path toward mutual benefit in the 21st century.
Jessica Durdu, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a foreign affairs specialist and PhD candidate in international relations at China Foreign Affairs University.
