Will Europe Punish China If Xi Crushes Hong Kong?

Does China fear Europe’s backlash over Hong Kong more than it does U.S. tariffs?

Protesters gather in central London to attend a march organized by StandwithHK and D4HK in support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on Aug. 17, 2019. Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s decision to link U.S. tariff negotiations to China’s handling of the continuing Hong Kong protests seems like a smart move.

It amply demonstrates the importance of Hong Kong in the eyes of the United States and other Western democracies. It would also seem to give Chinese leader Xi Jinping even less room to maneuver, and may add leverage to the U.S. negotiating position.