US President Trump's new tariffs to combat fentanyl were originally intended to target China, Canada, and Mexico. However, due to Canada and Mexico's rapid proposals to strengthen fentanyl interdiction measures, the tariffs were suspended for a month. China, on the other hand, offered no plans to combat fentanyl and wasn't even bothered to launch a crackdown to arrest a few exporters of fentanyl raw materials. Consequently, Trump promptly implemented the new tariffs, specifically targeting Hong Kong and suspending the Hong Kong Post from accepting parcels destined for the US. The assertion that Hong Kong has lost its unique status following the US's explicit declaration is clear. Objective facts cannot be distorted by subjective will. The question is why the US believes Hong Kong has lost its unique status. This isn't simply due to the executive orders signed during Trump's first term, based on the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.
National security judges and prosecutors have accused Hong Kong of human rights violations and it has become an ordinary Chinese city.
The Chinese government's suppression of the 2019 Hong Kong Revolution was, of course, the catalyst. The West expected China to comply with the wishes of Hong Kong people and implement the democratic autonomy promised in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. Instead of accommodating public sentiment, Xi Jinping went even further, insisting on implementing the "Hong Kong National Security Law." Even with the UK's introduction of the BNO visa program, which has seen a surge of middle-class immigrants eroding Hong Kong's economic foundation, Xi Jinping remains steadfast. This leaves the West with little reason to treat Hong Kong differently. There's no such thing as a free lunch. China, which exploits Hong Kong for its business needs, must comply with Western demands. Five years later, China remains steadfast. The level of evil in hearings related to the National Security Law is comparable to that of Nazi Germany, and the judges and prosecutors involved are nothing short of criminals against humanity. Given this, it's perfectly reasonable for the West to treat Hong Kong as just another ordinary Chinese city.
