Can US tariffs targeting Hong Kong’s ‘very survival’ really choke the life out of it?

One line in particular in a strongly worded speech by Xia Baolong, Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong affairs, drew widespread attention last week.

The pre-recorded speech covered a wide range of issues and reiterated many of Beijing’s official lines about Hong Kong’s security. Xia also condemned the US tariffs on Hong Kong, claiming they were not just about trade but aimed at taking away the city’s life itself.

“Despite Hong Kong being the largest source of the US trade surplus, the United States still imposed high tariffs on it. This is extremely arrogant and shameless,” Xia said in the keynote speech at a ceremony marking the city’s 10th National Security Education Day.

“The US isn’t after [Hong Kong’s] tariffs, it is after our very survival.”

While it was not surprising that Xia lambasted the US, his tone was harsher than ever before.

Some observers said it was a war cry aimed at rallying Hong Kong officials and the business sector to fight alongside Beijing in the trade war with the US.