On what basis should I conclude the "pro-democracy protestor from Hong Kong" is an ally? Because they're "pro-democracy"? We have those here: they just "fortified" an election. Because they use American symbolism? our leftists used to do that here as well before discovering they could drop the pretense.
Because they're pro-Western residents of a Western colony. The enemy of our enemy is not our friend, but there is a meaningful difference between the people of Hong Kong and the people of Xinjiang.
Being someone who tends to support self-determination of separate peoples, that just means I ought to support Hong Kong over China. Which I do. That doesn't mean I consider them an "ally" in American internal conflicts. They are not providing me aid and comfort, and their own culture tends to be more authoritarian and less pro individual liberty than my own.
On what basis should I conclude the "pro-democracy protestor from Hong Kong" is an ally? Because they're "pro-democracy"? We have those here: they just "fortified" an election. Because they use American symbolism? our leftists used to do that here as well before discovering they could drop the pretense.
Because they're pro-Western residents of a Western colony. The enemy of our enemy is not our friend, but there is a meaningful difference between the people of Hong Kong and the people of Xinjiang.
Being someone who tends to support self-determination of separate peoples, that just means I ought to support Hong Kong over China. Which I do. That doesn't mean I consider them an "ally" in American internal conflicts. They are not providing me aid and comfort, and their own culture tends to be more authoritarian and less pro individual liberty than my own.