An Amnesty International report released March 26 states that Hong Kong’s human rights “deteriorated severely” in 2018. The report draws particular attention to the erosion of Hong Kong’s “freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association” as a result of the government’s interpretation of “national security.” Amnesty International writes that Hong Kong’s government definition of national security “lacks clarity and legal predictability and is arbitrarily applied to suppress dissent and political opposition,” having a “chilling effect on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression in the city.”

The suppression of “dissent and political opposition” extends to anybody “advocating a change of government or government policies.” Anything that could be politically sensitive is censored. “[A]ny advocacy for Hong Kong’s independence or self-determination, even by non-violent means, threatens ‘national security’ and therefore is ‘illegal’ or does ‘not uphold the Basic Law,’” writes Amnesty.

Several cases of restricting this “illegal” behavior occurred in 2018, with direct interference by China.

On Oct. 26, 2018, Demosisto, a pro-self-determination political party in Hong Kong, announced that two of its members were detained by Chinese authorities in a trip to the mainland in March and August of that year. The pair reported being interrogated for hours over their affiliation with Demosisto. One of the members was reportedly held at an unofficial detention center, where the chance of torture and other abuses increases. Amnesty International–Hong Kong described this as “a chilling attempt” by Beijing to silence Hong Kong’s independence activists. But Hong Kong’s government did nothing to protect the rights of its citizens nor did it negotiate with China to prevent such an event from happening again.

Also in 2018, the Hong Kong government officially banned the Hong Kong National Party “in the interests of national security, public safety, public order, and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.” The party promotes Hong Kong independence from China. Any member or individual who acts in support of the party could face charges and imprisonment. In the name of upholding freedoms and rights, Hong Kong is squashing anything contrary to its policies, which are clearly dictated by China.

These are just two examples of the political suppression that occurred during 2018.

The report notes that the use of “sweeping references to ‘national security’ to silence dissenting voices is a tactic favored by repressive governments”—e.g., China.

China carries out even worse human rights violations on the mainland, including making people disappear or detaining members of particular religious and political groups, or affiliated individuals, to camps in the Xinjiang province. China’s government also holds tight control over communications, the Internet, news media and education. It is dragging Hong Kong down the same path.

Undoubtedly, China is behind these increasing crackdowns in Hong Kong as it seeks to bring the region more forcefully under its control.

Amnesty’s report comes less than a week after the United States published its 2019 Hong Kong Policy Act Report. This report also raises concerns over China’s increasing dominance. “[T]he Chinese mainland central government implemented or instigated a number of actions that appeared inconsistent with China’s commitments … to allow Hong Kong to exercise a high degree of autonomy,” wrote the U.S. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. “The tempo of mainland central government intervention in Hong Kong affairs—and actions by the Hong Kong government consistent with mainland direction—increased, accelerating negative trends.”

These events are a direct fulfillment of Bible prophecy—foretelling the rise of China and the fall of the modern-day descendants of ancient Israel, specifically America and Britain. (For information on the modern-day identity of ancient Israel, read our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert W. Armstrong.)

In June 1997, soon after Hong Kong’s transfer to China, the Trumpet wrote: “With the end of British rule in Hong Kong we see the final act performed in the closure of an empire—a God-given empire—and the hastening of the fulfillment of the prophesied curses upon a spoiled and ungrateful nation, the British people.”

In Genesis 22:17, God promised to bless the descendants of Israel with “the gate of his enemies.” This refers specifically to sea gates, such as the Suez Canal, the Bab el-Mandeb, Sri Lanka, the Panama Canal and Hong Kong. All of these, and many more, were once controlled by the U.S. or Britain, contributing to their superpower status.

Now, in direct fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:52, Britain and America have lost control of these sea gates. Those who now control them will use them to “besiege [Israel] in all thy gates.” America’s and Britain’s loss of these sea gates, including Hong Kong, will soon be used against them to bring about their downfall.

China now controls the majority of these sea gates.

China is tightening its stranglehold over Hong Kong and casting its net around the world, especially through its Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong’s autonomy, and that of much of the world, is threatened by China’s rise.

The Bible prophesies that China will rise to superpower status to join what Revelation 16:12 calls “the kings of the east.” Russia will ultimately be at the head of this alliance, and China will be in a position of leadership directly under it, as Ezekiel 38 reveals. This terrifying military alliance of multiple Asian nations will wield a massive 200 million-man army (Revelation 9:16). China’s expanded control in Hong Kong and around the world will soon wreak havoc as it seeks global dominance.

For more information on China’s prophesied rise, please read our free booklet Russia and China in Prophecy.