[tanilama]

> Russia and China aspire to nothing.

Not really.

Russia and China aspires to protect their perceived sovereignty. That is probably the most fundamental political ideal.

Also, China doesn't really treat HK as 'foreign'.

Last but not least, in a post-COVID world, I can't really say that US is even better for your physical well-being among the choices.

[baybal2]

I think, you need to read some history books... preferably Chinese, or Russian.

For most people from the West, the political thinking of people in power here is almost martian.

Both Russia, and China spent a big chunk of their history under foreign occupation, and the occupation it was very savage, and brutal. How do you reconcile your imperial ambitions with understanding that your global superpower polity began its existence as a country of a slave?

How do you live as a big man you tell you are when your driving impulse is a preoccupation with your vulnerabilities, and your identity as a power holder being that of an enemy to your own people, having to server as a tributary, or vassal lord to some Hun/Mongol/Tatar/Manchu khan on your own home soil?

This is the reason of immense insecurity of ego, and character you see there through the history. And that cutthroat, survivalist attitude is also because of that. And the incessant urges to do chest trumping, and prove themselves are also because of that.

[tanilama]

> China spent a big chunk of their history under foreign occupation

Not true. Most of Chinese history is under a unified regime. The years between 1850-1950 is an outlier in Chinese history.

I don't see China's actions here as insecure. HK never really has a chance to be separate from China, that is just its geopolitical destiny. It is more like Xi or CCP's assertion than vulnerability that leads to this legislation. It is the classical Asian parenting techniques, just manifest at a much larger scale.

BTW: I do read Chinese history books, and in Chinese. :)

[the_dune_13]

"Both Russia, and China spent a big chunk of their history under foreign occupation" What's the Russian's big chunk? "having to server as a tributary, or vassal lord to some Hun/Mongol/Tatar/Manchu khan on your own home soil?" Didn't Grand Duchy of Muscovy predecessors come to existence thanks to alliance with Golden Horde?

[baybal2]

Yes, they had an alliance in a manner of vassalage in exchange for khan's troops.

It was basically the khan saying them "I will back you if you submit a bigger chunk of Russian land to me"

It was like that with Mongols, and many other foreign invaders before, and after them. Both by Muscovy, and by duchies apposing it.

[thaumasiotes]

> Also, China doesn't really treat HK as 'foreign'.

Depends what you mean by "treat it as foreign". It's under a different legal system, it has its own currency, and migration between China and Hong Kong is controlled. If you enter China on a single-entry visa, you won't be able to get back in (without a new visa) after visiting Hong Kong.

[tanilama]

Definitely not in the sense that China would treat HK issue like anything but its internal issues.

Its action of directly imposing the national security law upon HK only asserts its position, that Chinese government doesn't see there is any need to start negotiation, with anyone.