During Hong Kong’s National Day on July 1^st, the visiting Chinese president Xi Jinping proclaimed the “beginning of true democracy” in Hong Kong after the mainland regained formal control over the territory exactly 25 years ago. In a venue closed for the public and journalists, after having deployed a huge security force, these words conveyed a chilling message to the world. To most Western spectators, this is a confusing, perhaps even silly statement. By referring to “true democracy”, Mr. Xi not only suggests the Communist Party of China (CPC) has implemented a democratic system in Hong Kong, but also that only China understands the real meaning of democracy. When I read about Mr. Xi’s speech, I could feel my head shaking from left to right. Surely, nobody can take this claim seriously. Or is there more to it?