Unveiling A New Identity Under the Umbrella of Chinese in the Political Conflict

This paper argues that the conflict between China and Hong Kong is not a simple political dispute but is fundamentally tied to the emergence of a new identity within Hong Kong under the umbrella of Chinese identity. The Umbrella Movement in 2014 and the 2019 Extradition Bill movement further highlight the rise of a distinct Hong Kong identity, an identity constructed under the lens of a constructivist and defined by its set of politics, unique culture, and democratic values influenced by British colonialism. In contrast, Chinese identity is understood through a primordialism lens, emphasizing common ancestry and national harmony, interpreted as submission to autocracy. This paper will argue how value incompatibility in both identities is the root cause of this political conflict.