18 August 2019 - Hong Kong 3

Some analysts are saying that China will not send the tanks, or more realistically the machine guns, into Hong Kong, because the political and economic price is too high. But what does Beijing see as the price of not sending in the guns? The usual comparison point is Tiananmen, but instead compare Taiwan. To politically unify China is a top national goal. In both cases, Beijing has made rhetorical and military preparations. The logical course of action is to minimize the total political cost by seizing both at once.