[cannonedhamster]

China could easily afford to wipe Hong Kong off the face of the map, but it would ruin the image that they are trying to show of paternalism. China militarized islands they said they wouldn't, invaded India, is threatening the United States military ships in international waters, and egging on war with Japan. China has a massive and captive internal market that makes up the majority of their economy. It would certainly hurt to lose the western trading powers, but it's not like they wouldn't be able to survive without them.