The European Security and Defence Union Issue 33

Page 12

THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION

In the Spotlight

+++ Commentaries +++

GUEST COMMENTARY

Our freedom starts with Hong Kong by Jean-Dominique Giuliani, President of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Paris

O

n 4th July 1997, Hong Kong was returned to China. It was my privilege to represent France on that occasion. René Monory, the President of the Senate, led our delegation, which included amongst others Alain Peyrefitte. The symbolism of this handover was not lost on us. Martial China and its elite troops goosestepped their way as they took back this tiny piece of land, that had become British after the signature of some one-sided treaties. Indeed, the island of Hong Kong and the peninsula close to Kowloon had been ceded to Britain in perpetuity. It was the new territories, leased for 99 years, which were to be returned – but it was difficult to separate them from the rest, such was the density of the urban fabric. However, Margaret Thatcher, who signed an act of retrocession in 1984, could not help but “regret having to give all of that back to the Communists.” She was not wrong. It was clear that the Chinese would not keep their word which had, however, been included in a treaty filed with the UN Secretary General, and that they would not protect Hong Kong’s status for 50 years. Despite the Chinese Communist Party having become the champion of capitalism, it could never tolerate political liberalism, and quite simply, the freedom of expression. During the four days of endless rain, we were able to take stock of the extent of the misunderstanding unfolding before our eyes. Chris Patten, the British governor, explained his efforts to leave behind seeds of democracy in Hong Kong, where, rather late in the day and to the great displeasure of the Chinese, he had organised the first free elections. Prince Charles, whose poise was admirable in the downpour that required the lamination of the pages of his retrocession speech, was not deceived either. In his opinion, it was yet another decolonisation ceremony, of which he had become the specialist. Since the 1960s he had always represented

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the UK on the many occasions that former British colonies became independent. God knows he had witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack enough times! And to think that some envied him! The British always quit the territories of their former empire awkwardly. They left suddenly, coldly – with regret – but curtly. They abandoned the citizens of Hong Kong to their fate because the banks interested them more than the challenge set by the Chinese Communist Party. Today, it is the young people who are demonstrating. Their idea of freedom is also ours: economic and political freedom are indissociable. As in an Asian picture, they go hand in hand like air and water. In the eyes of the Chinese dictatorship the challenge is a vital one. Its existence possibly depends on the way it emerges from this crisis. The victory of the Beijing regime over the democrats in Hong Kong would mean the greatest danger for our freedom. Angela Merkel was not mistaken when she advocated giving support to the young demonstrators in China, and as she criticised the Orwellian system of social rating that the Chinese regime is now deploying across the land, before extending it to Asia and beyond. The future confrontation with the Middle Empire will first affect the universal values of freedom and democracy that it rejects. Whoever knows the region also knows that Hong Kong is not just a rock that was occupied for a few years by a Western power. It is an island of freedom in an autocratic ocean. Its survival could be the starting point for a return of freedom on the continent. Neighbouring Shenzhen now has the same skyscrapers and its opulence is even more evident. But it lacks that one vital thing! The West and Europe would be wise to be inspired to support those who are defending their idea of freedom. Before it is too late.


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Articles inside

Interview with Bruce R. Eggers, Andover, MA The Future of European Integrated Air and Missile Defence The Patriot partnership community

5min
pages 50-51

Last but not least

5min
pages 57-60

Conference report by Hartmut Bühl, Brussels Life Support Solutions – Field Camp Services International workshop at Kärcher Futuretech

2min
page 56

Dirk Zickora, Munich The importance of a European Air Power solution The role of space and cyberspace

8min
pages 38-41

Raymond Hernandez, Erkrath No more dead through contaminated water! Potable water – easily produced everywhere

5min
pages 54-55

Round table interview with Patrick Bellouard, Paris, Hans-Christoph Atzpodien, Berlin, and Trevor Taylor, London Germany – a touchstone for the arms export policy of the European Union

18min
pages 44-49

Conference report by Nannette Cazaubon, Paris The EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative 7 th meeting of National Focal Points

5min
pages 52-53

Timo Kivinen, Helsinki Finland promotes an EU defence cooperation Make European forces more operational

6min
pages 42-43

Carlos Bandin Bujan, Brussels We need more efficient cybersecurity building worldwide A transversal issue in development and cooperation

5min
pages 28-29

Rob Wainwright, Amsterdam, and Beth McGrath, Washington The new role of the Defence Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) CISOs are more than technology officers

6min
pages 36-37

Documentation 5G networks, “fake news” and disinformation

5min
pages 32-33

Wolfgang Röhrig, Brussels Cyber defence in the European Union is part of its defence capabilities Cyber strongly influences capability development

5min
pages 34-35

Secunet, Essen NAPMA further expands its SINA Secure Remote Access capability Advertorial

5min
pages 30-31

Peter Martini, Bonn The crucial role of cybersecurity for a resilient energy supply Vulnerability will increase with digitalisation

3min
page 21

Interview with Arne Schönbohm, Bonn Europe needs coherent national strategies and EU operational concepts Make cybersecurity a top priority

12min
pages 24-27

Michael Singh, Washington, DC The world needs the EU as a global player Europe strategic dependence

4min
pages 14-15

Jean-Louis Gergorin /Léo Isaac Dognin, Paris Democracies must learn to withstand, in peacetime, a permanent war in cyberspace Governance remains the number one challenge

8min
pages 18-20

Angelika Niebler MEP, Brussels/Strasbourg How MEPs work to boost Europe’s cybersecurity Cyber resilience is a top issue in the EU

6min
pages 16-17

Roberto Viola, Brussels Taking a cyber leap forward A European response to cyber threats

6min
pages 22-23

Guest commentary by Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Paris Our freedom starts with Hong kong

3min
page 12

Commentary by Hartmut Bühl, Paris Security must be palpable

2min
page 13
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