By Dr. Kevin Lau
In the shadowed years of Hong Kong's social unrest, certain Western voices, perhaps misinformed, heralded their democratic systems as universal values. Yet, the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrine only five true universal values: peace, freedom, social progress, equal rights, and human dignity. To crown a specific democratic model as a universal imperative is to muddy the waters of truth, a logical misstep that distorts global understanding.
Yet, one value, often overlooked, swims silently beneath this discourse: national security. Survey the globe, and no nation stands indifferent to its own safety. Like an individual bolting their doors at dusk or a family safeguarding its hearth, a nation's security is its bedrock, the foundation upon which all other aspirations rest. National security is not merely a policy; it is a universal instinct, woven into the fabric of every sovereign state.
Western nations, with their iron-clad security measures, are scarcely in a position to cast stones at others for similar vigilance. At a recent family gathering, a relative, well-traveled and freshly returned from abroad, shared tales of stringent border controls. Australia, he noted, enforces the world's tightest entry protocols, with officials seizing even a half-eaten sandwich to protect agricultural integrity. The United States follows closely, its security apparatus unyielding. These measures, from food safety to counterterrorism, reflect a universal truth: no nation compromises on its shield.
In today's fraught geopolitical landscape, Western countries are doubling down on security, crafting ever-tougher policies. The evolution of threats—beyond traditional military incursions to include cyberattacks, economic espionage, and disinformation—has reshaped the security paradigm. The U.S., for instance, has proposed expanding its travel ban to encompass citizens from 36 countries, a move framed as fortifying national security under renewed leadership. Such actions underscore a global consensus: security is paramount.
If Western nations tighten their own "golden hoops" of protection, they forfeit the right to wag fingers at others for doing the same. The hypocrisy of permitting only their own "fires" while forbidding others to "light lamps" is a logic that crumbles under scrutiny. Hong Kong National Security Law, enacted on June 30, 2020, now nears its fifth anniversary. This legislation sealed critical gaps in our legal framework, fortifying the city's defenses. Far from stifling, it has ushered in an era of stability, with citizens increasingly attuned to security's value and savoring the tranquility it brings. Reflecting on the chaos of 2019, when violent unrest tore at our city's heart, one cannot help but cherish this newfound calm.
In Western discourse, national security is a vast canopy, sheltering political, military, cyber, financial, ecological, and cultural domains—even extending to the food safety my relative encountered. Political security stands as the keystone; its breach risks paralyzing institutions and unleashing street violence. As a universal value transcending borders and cultures, national security is every nation's prerogative to uphold, a shield that guards the dreams of its people.
The author is a specialist in radiology, Master of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, Founding Convenor of the Hong Kong Global Youth Professional Advocacy Action, and an adviser of the Our Hong Kong Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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