The mass demonstrations on the streets of Hong Kong present China with its biggest political challenge since the pro-democracy movement was crushed in and around Tiananmen Square in 1989. The parallels between the demonstrations in Hong Kong now and those in Beijing, 25 years ago are eerie – and must be profoundly unsettling to the Communist party leadership. Once again, the demonstrations are led by students demanding democratic reform. Once again, the central authorities have lost control – and risk facing a choice between repression and a humiliating climbdown. Once again, the ultimate question is the power and authority of the Communist party in Beijing.
香港街頭的大規(guī)模示威活動(dòng)使中國政府面臨自1989年以來最嚴(yán)重的政治挑戰(zhàn)。25年前發(fā)生在天安門廣場及其周邊的那場民主運(yùn)動(dòng)遭到了鎮(zhèn)壓，今天香港的示威活動(dòng)與北京當(dāng)年那場運(yùn)動(dòng)出奇相似，并且同樣讓中共領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層坐立不安。這次示威活動(dòng)也是由要求民主改革的學(xué)生領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的。這次中央也控制不住局面，可能不得不在鎮(zhèn)壓還是讓步之間做出選擇。和上次一樣，根本問題在于中共的權(quán)力和權(quán)威。