Yes, thanks for the clarification. I was trying to make my comment specifically about secession - debunking the notion that Hong Kong is not part of China. The HK Basic Law, the same document that guarantees the "One country, two systems" approach, starts with the sentence "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China."

I agree that the mainland government acted rashly. The forced implementation of the national security law definitely violates the spirit, if not the law here, and understandably a lot of people were alienated by this move. That said, the Basic Law does provide a provision for the implementation of such a law (Article 23), and there's ample wiggle room for the governments involved to argue that they haven't yet demolished the "one country, two systems" approach as yet.

While those in Hong Kong still enjoy more freedoms then China mainland... locking people up for only holding up signs and chanting (not excusing those who were violent)... has scared off Taiwan. No one wants to vote for the "Patriots" and now those in HK live their lives to try not to go to jail.

Nations are made by wars, not "Basic Laws". Read the history. Whether HK is a nation or not depends on how strong their people's will is to not be Chinese and to go to war for it - "Would rather be annihilated than being Chinese." Apparently they don't have it, but the jury of History might still be out.

I think people have a right to self determination. If Texas wants to secede please go ahead and do so.

Same for Catalonia, Hong Kong or any other.

Not saying it is a thing that should be done lightly, but also not impossible.

Countries exists for the people, not the other way round like China likes to think.

I don't know why people single out China for this when the US has invaded, couped, bombed, and otherwise helped install right-wing military juntas globally. Where was self-determination for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos?

China's priority is national security, and given the track record of western liberal democracies it is not unreasonable. As I recall we had a civil war the last time states tried seceding.

Because this is a thread about China?

I’m not American, I don’t agree with the Vietnam war and I think the civil war was an ethical difficult decision. That was 150 years ago so not really sure why it is relevant.

Good point, sometimes you need self-determination, sometimes Uncle Ben will help you determine.