If war is continuing politics by other means, the opposition should ask whether it can achieve its goals through violence. Clearly, dialogue and reaching political solutions is the way forward.
Carrie Lam’s insistence that violence must end before dialogue with the protesters can begin is a non-starter, because there is no individual or group in a leading position capable of controlling all the protesters.
Donald Trump’s mercantilist views on trade reflect outdated thinking on the subject, but based on his approach to North Korea (and now Iran), it is possible that harsh words may give way to summitry.