A conflict with the use of Nuclear Weapons. Also on the day lawmakers in hong kong, prepared to pass a controversial security law with hundreds of dissenters, jails and critical media silenced its opponents know they are fighting a losing battle for the whole power. Scariest thing is the old of hong kong is gripped by fear. The people used to criticize csr, receive them public. Hey, you guys know fuse because even if they are dissatisfied we begin the day with a warning of nuclear war. Russian president Vladimir Putin says nieto risk. So nuclear confrontation, if its members and troops to ukraine and made the comments during his annual state of the nation address. The stuff went up there talking about the possibility of sending natal military contingents to ukraine. No little new. We remember the fate, the fate of those one sent the troops to the territory of our country can jump from the 2 to 3, and thats just that on the on the doors are used to, they should understand. So then we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory, but as a city like everything, the west is coming up with now to see what they threaten the world with pity, do more with tissue. It can result in a conflict with the use of Nuclear Weapons to me is still serious. And therefore at the end, the destruction of civilization. So is boards and even get you to know how to show as much of felicia and civil is. Thats what it is. Warning came after france as president and mind, while my client earlier refused to rule out the possibility of western nations sending troops to ukraine at a press conference in paris. Earlier this week he said there was no consensus today to send the Ground Troops in unofficial endorsed and sanctioned a manner. But in dynamic terms, nothing should be ruled out. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that russia cannot win this war. A bad idea was quickly shot down by other western leaders, including german chancellor, olaf schultz, but clearly ruffled feathers in moscow. Colins leader says, hootons threat of a nuclear war should be taken seriously. Here as a Prime Minister donald task thats just go to about the soul has to be taken deadly seriously from a group of to just done once again. I repeat what ive been saying and discussing with partners in recent weeks here in warsaw. Sylvia, im a she is it also mitch, youre a must understand that this new arms race that rush or is imposing on the world . Yeah. Can those are sort of yes go through and russian aggression a great do crane a muscle will cause an awakening. Much in old european capitals, this keeps the bass case. And we should say that put in was speaking 2 weeks before russia holds president ial elections. If you want to call them that much of his speech, to touch on domestic issues as well. Ranging from tax and pensions to the Health System and he made no mention of his greatest challenger. Ill explain the vall, me, who is going to be buried on friday, with a little to no opposition standing in his way pollution is expected to sweep to another election victory. We can get more now from a jade mclinn and she is an expert on russian politics and Foreign Policy with the department of war studies at Kings College london. And she joins me tonight from cube. Her latest book is memory makers the politics of the past, and pretends russia. It examines how the kremlin uses miss and memory in legitimizing, repression at home and imperialism abroad. State. Im so glad you can join us. Id like to start off with fulton invoking the possibility of nuclear conflict. This is, of course, not a new threat from preaching but, but we did hear donald tusk. Theyre saying that this should be taken deadly seriously. Im curious. What do you think as me taking this course, we have to take any nuclear for it . Definitely, seriously. So it would be foolish not to i think we have to take the Nuclear French on all sides seriously there, including what happens if you allow new, clear, black meaning to a ton sense of security policy. Because its a new going to lead to nuclear proliferation. There already, strong room is about poland, considering you know, developing Nuclear Weapons in the case of a trump presidency. For now they may be ruinous. But lets be honest. It would be an entirely logical step if the American Nuclear umbrella were perhaps to fade away from europe. And i think that the logistics comments around the need for a serious awakening in european capitals is the message that perhaps needs to be screamed across the loudspeaker. So in many got to get that, i dont know earlier in a parent response to my cons, comments that refused to roll out troops in ukraine. A russian lawmaker and member of whitmans inner circle, referred to napoleon, is invasion of 1812. 00 saying that if the french did send troops now, they would meet the same fate. Youve written about miss and memory and russia and, and im curious if you could tell us why we see history being such a useful Political Tool for pretend i think this was because, of course, as the dictates, and hes unable to rely on popular legitimacy received free debate, so history is another way of obtaining legitimacy. And this is actually quite a typical way of rushing me disclaiming legitimacy. Going back to the romanovs who justified that often the time of trouble is by saying that they were linked. There were a cabbage students the which looks by the kids in groups. They team 12 restaurant is especially interesting because thats the 1st grade teacher to call the 2nd grade teacher. Or of course being what we would call low point 2. And its also interesting because he clearly states, we know what happens to foreign invaders who come to our country, but of course, hes talking about nato so which is in the country. If you crane, which is very much, no rush, its got no russian territory. So its also an interesting insight into his ideological view, which brings me back to the question, which is, why is history so important as a tool is much more than a tool that space, a contributing and complicating factor behind pretends well on your kind brushes, war and ukraine, im present or impossible obsession with ukraine, which is the importance of ukraine to russian restoring. Its apparently in his view dissolved position in mclean, florida. Im curious, i put in as comments they are backed by some recent russian successes on the battlefield in ukraine. How much do you think that is helping him politically at the moment . Slow and i think it of course encourages him as well. I mean, lots of people listening to todays address. So is the very, very attentive view, but i cant help but think having just got back from dumbass and having being very near the front. But actually we also have a very versed in to view of whats happening here. Ukraine is running out of man. Ukraine is running outside munitions. Nobody really knows if the 8 packing Jim Washington will cost. And if it doesnt, its going to leave russian a very strong position. So yeah, some of his comments where he was confident the point of hubristic, but whether or not he is not justified in and having these positions that remains to be seen on various id say 35. 00 at elections are also coming up in russia in less than 2 weeks, im curious when you look at how pretend is presenting himself ahead of these, how important the war in ukraine is for him versus the Domestic Social issues. For example. Well, whats very interesting is at home in terms of the election campaigning, the focus is very much on what weve been cooperative about the issues. And this is the less than that they learn from the original elections that took place last year. Because 1st of all, they went very hard in terms of the messaging on oh, really . Well harrisons both special minute shop is of course and you know, references the heroism and the warranty cream. And it really was not resonating with states as people were not responding to the point to talk about, you know, issues such as inflation, food prices and so on. And so then the messaging changed to be more aligned to that. And there is much more of a domestic coast, which is interesting because in general, russian news is normally characterized by its intense increase on whats happening elsewhere in the world. And why everywhere else in the world is rubbish. That doesnt really matter. Refresher is rubbish as well. Mm hm. And we also saw fulton in his speech speaking at some length about the declining population in russia. Why do you think this is such an important topic to him . Or i think its part of that road ideological elements. So the idea of rusher is a country, the traditional values that cast about 5 and leave at casa, authentic t on like you know, the last, the liberal west. I find it hard to believe that he does truly care about russian democracy. They, because if he did, theres a very easy way to fix it, which would be to stop sending tens of thousands of men to the store to say that perhaps they could stay home and, and make babies instead of that money thats being spent on the war. Machinery and on killing . No, maam, lets learn ukrainians. Could instead be invested into making conditions easier to feel comedies. So i have to see it as an ideological element because it doesnt appear that you do have increases, for example, in the tennessee payments, for example, it doesnt, it doesnt really tale, you know, warm away seems to wind. Well, thank you so much for joining us with your insight that has j mclinn from Kings College london. We really appreciate your time. Thank you. Lets turn to hong kong where legislators are preparing to pass a controversial security law has been criticized for its effect on human rights. The laws long been demanded by china, Central Government in beijing, which has increasingly asserted its authority on the island of hong kong. In recent years, mazda of street protests in earlier years stopped the government from implementing the law known as article 20 for provision in hong kong constitution. But with many opposition activists in jail or an exile is expected to pass through parliament easily. Lets take a look at exactly what article 23 entails. So the new law would be part of hong kong as many constitution, which is separate from that if the chinese mainland, article 23. 00 requires hong kong to suppress, to send and threats to the government. The new law contains broad provisions against treason, insurrection, espionage, and destructive activities endangering National Security and external interference. Human rights advocates say it dramatically undermines due process and fair trial rights. The moment that changed everything, july 1st, 1997 when britain handed over hong kong to china, which promised to respect the principle of one country to systems. That method ha, could enjoy many of the democratic freedoms theyd had under british rule. Under hong kong its own mini constitution. But in 2003, beijing tried to introduce security laws under article 23 of that many constitution. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the st test. And the proposal was withdrawn. In 2014 a Civil Disobedience Movement arose, pushing for more democratic organizers, fear that the police might track down and everyone has to stay. Highly alert, riley has been peaceful, but now to your guys and plastic bullets have been transferred to the government headquarters. I a soon after the police forcefully cleared protest caps and the government did not relent. Setting the stage for future classes with democracy activists. 5 years later, another series of widespread protests sparked by a proposal to extradite criminal suspects. The Mainland China was met with a harsh police response. No one is upgrade. We have more and more angry. You never know what the government will put on there. And im just worried about the problem. Rather than answering the protesters, demands the following year, beijing impose the new National Security law, the defined many Anti Government efforts as the session and subversion and assigned life sentences for many of those so called crimes. That was it for many of Hong Kong Pro Democracy activists. Dozens of opposition leaders were arrested, along with journalists and ordinary citizens. Others went into exile. Independent media was silenced, phasing signal that it had fully taken over in 2022 when jesus in paying arrived in hong kong to swear it. And john lee, as the territories chief executive or the ceremony happened on july 1st 25 years to the day after the british hand over to service, lee has said that the new security legislation is a priority and with the opposition vanquished, hes likely to get his wish id like to bring in a sunny tongue, a pro democracy activist who has left hong kong to seek asylum in the united states. He joins me now from washington. D. C. Thank you so much for taking the time. I understand that one of the concerns over the new security law is that some of the crimes, particularly in relation to state secrets, are vague. Are you worried about how these might be enforced . Yes, i personally am family worried about the definition of that, just because of my specifications and the way he will be insult. Because the legislation propose a top 10 drop and face addition multiplexing of security from china is needles. People to create and challenges on common law system and raising, im also concerned about the evolution of Legal Certainty and traditional you dependent post. Ill send you says like espionage, a state secret, as mentioned and be personally defined, increasing amounts of recess, football and businesses and intensifying control over you formation with implications for Due Diligence and freedom of expression. In addition to concerns for businesses operating there are there already indications of, of how this law might be applied. Something like the law, the law about espionage of what that could mean. For example, for activists in hong kong. Right. So under the current proposal, i skim last cruise, most of the options may collecting information too. Uh so for any people that are useful to add external thoughts and that is fair, we allow me because um, one follows to point when you pass these back, the holes in columbus, these kind of life of Due Diligence for their operation, your phone call. So when, as well, and weve dealt with cim, casita, got you all painting information that can be useful for external falls and also like we feel some social situation. And you cannot make situation in the china and hong kong. And you can actually pass a product. And you can use, in cases and models, we see that actually china scuffling has weighed many fall on, on a piece. And that has offices thats creation on most of the uncertainty and concerns about this set to. And so compared to it. So when you left hong kong a few years back, you know what, what is the, what is the atmosphere like theyre at today under, under the possibility of this taking effect . I believe im the one strive in Civil Society in hong kong, west hallway. They dont call due to depressed down and the article tried to flee. And the previous a message was that people, especially the fee to actually and all on social social social groups like medias on so being dismantled, due to depression. And only a handful of poll task can be old. The nice, you know, home home under the scrutiny of the uncle police force. So this the freedom of expression and of freedom of us, thatd be most actually protected in home right now. And thats actually pretty mellow, solve a multi concern to how the home government can implement this small uh, without checking boxes. So you say theres been only a handful of protests. Is that, is that because you think there is less opposition to this law in hong kong . Because it has been more muted and what we have seen in years previously, or is this a sign of the times . So if any manufacturer of my on now actually the person behind the ball and personally, im not also getting back so. So the whole, the whole opposition and home home on the being like cops and also the i the you can present or you make so. So i would say when the opposition is not even played easy at home home. So we cannot expect the home phone got them and still hold themselves comfortable when it comes to implementing this kind of problem. Actually most of people, especially a piece the actual on chinese house, try me stuff and then just understand the measurements of it. So if youre speaking to an International Audience here, so just before i let you go, id like to ask, what do you think western democracies and agent, democracies like japan and south korea can do here . Do they have any sway . I mean, i think there are like 2 layers of things, right . So of course, i mean try to, im whole just trying to discuss them and then all government accountable for their all foundation of the one country through the system. And im resting so many a political present a spray on. On the other hand, i would say ation democracy, electric pad, stop career. Or you can stop east asian countries. You have to concede to actually you have to do waste of china. Different on the very unstable Economic Situation and how tiny scotsman is increasingly adopting a put them back to National Security understanding uh domestically. So i think this is a very strong signal for them to try to buy for a supply supply chain, a business involvement in order to minimize the weight with im doing businesses with china. Democracy activists, sunny chung, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us. Thank you. Of the now gone as a new anti eligibilities to plus legislation has drawn International Condemnation with united nations, calling it profoundly disturbing under the new law, the promotion, even the promotion of rights will be punished with up to 5 years in prison. Same sex relations are already illegal in gonna activists. Ive described this new while as a nother set back for human rights. As someone who knows about the difficulties of life and gone are for queer people is musician and activist. Maxine inc, angel, poco also has known as angel. Maxine, she has gone his 1st ope