HONG KONG -- At the very moment that the world is captivated with the promise of China rising economically, China itself has provided two vivid examples of the danger that it is plunging politically.

In Hong Kong, Beijing is on the brink of fatally undermining the predictable rule of law, one of the very qualities that makes this "Asian World City" of potentially great value to Beijing.

In Taiwan, Beijing is on the brink of fatally undermining future prospects for the difficult task of national reunification at the very moment that the process could be gathering positive momentum.