The mass demonstrations on the streets of Hong Kong present China with its biggest political challenge since the pro-democracy movement was crushed in and around Tiananmen Square in 1989. The parallels between the demonstrations in Hong Kong now and those in Beijing, 25 years ago are eerie – and must be profoundly unsettling to the Communist party leadership. Once again, the demonstrations are led by students demanding democratic reform. Once again, the central authorities have lost control – and risk facing a choice between repression and a humiliating climbdown. Once again, the ultimate question is the power and authority of the Communist party in Beijing.
香港街頭的大規模示威活動使中國政府面臨自1989年以來最嚴重的政治挑戰。25年前發生在天安門廣場及其周邊的那場民主運動遭到了鎮壓，今天香港的示威活動與北京當年那場運動出奇相似，並且同樣讓中共領導層坐立不安。這次示威活動也是由要求民主改革的學生領導的。這次中央也控制不住局面，可能不得不在鎮壓還是讓步之間做出選擇。和上次一樣，根本問題在於中共的權力和權威。