Overall I'm in agreement with this position by Austrian China, but we have to look at the dynamics of the Western protests effectiveness' overtime. Protests used to be an effective tool to influence the situation and to change the course taken by the government. They have helped to change many things and to even stop wars throughout 1960s, 70s, and even 80s. But from the 1990s onwards first of all there were fewer protests, as the West reached an economic and geopolitical power apogee with a massive influx of the resources that were previously inside of the Soviet system (USSR and satellites) and the living for the average consumer in the West was never as good until 2008. After 2008 there were some protests but their effectiveness in influencing government was in a gradual decline. As an example, let's remember Yellow Vests protests in France, how persistent and massive they were and how little did they achieve. In 2020 and later we have reached the phase when people's protests were basically squashed or ignored. "Elites" felt confident enough they have all the tools (media and tech giants) to shape a majority public opinion, and they were not hesitant at all to use these tools. Any dissenting voices were (and are) simply ignored or if they become too loud - they are silenced. I wish I could share enthusiasm with Austrian China about the wisdom of Chinese authorities that listen to people's voice, but I can't. Time will tell. Let's continue watching, as it looks like the world has finally woken up to the fact that main problems with human rights in China is not in Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous District and not in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but all over China mainland.
National activism in the US has worked (civil rights?)
Overall I'm in agreement with this position by Austrian China, but we have to look at the dynamics of the Western protests effectiveness' overtime. Protests used to be an effective tool to influence the situation and to change the course taken by the government. They have helped to change many things and to even stop wars throughout 1960s, 70s, and even 80s. But from the 1990s onwards first of all there were fewer protests, as the West reached an economic and geopolitical power apogee with a massive influx of the resources that were previously inside of the Soviet system (USSR and satellites) and the living for the average consumer in the West was never as good until 2008. After 2008 there were some protests but their effectiveness in influencing government was in a gradual decline. As an example, let's remember Yellow Vests protests in France, how persistent and massive they were and how little did they achieve. In 2020 and later we have reached the phase when people's protests were basically squashed or ignored. "Elites" felt confident enough they have all the tools (media and tech giants) to shape a majority public opinion, and they were not hesitant at all to use these tools. Any dissenting voices were (and are) simply ignored or if they become too loud - they are silenced. I wish I could share enthusiasm with Austrian China about the wisdom of Chinese authorities that listen to people's voice, but I can't. Time will tell. Let's continue watching, as it looks like the world has finally woken up to the fact that main problems with human rights in China is not in Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous District and not in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but all over China mainland.