The US Department of State’s top official for Asian affairs on Wednesday questioned whether China would keep its promises to preserve Hong Kong’s autonomy amid street protests demanding open elections.
“We are concerned by signs that China’s commitment to the ‘one country, two systems’ model, as well as to maintaining a high degree of autonomy, are eroding,” US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel told a Senate subcommittee that questioned the willingness of the administration of US President Barack Obama to prod Beijing.
Protesters have occupied the streets of Hong Kong for the past two months after China declared that candidates for the first chief executive election in 2017 must be nominated by a committee rather than voters.
The clashes have forced the Obama administration to navigate between defending democracy and managing relations with China, as the US tries to deliver on its promised strategic and economic “rebalance” toward Asia.
“The United States strongly supports ‘one country, two systems,’” Russel said, referring to the constitutional formula devised by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) that allows some Chinese territories, such as Hong Kong, to retain their capitalist economic systems and domestic autonomy.
Russel also called for “competitive” elections in the territory.
“The legitimacy of Hong Kong’s chief executive will be greatly enhanced if the promise of universal suffrage is fulfilled,” he said.
“This means allowing for a competitive election in which a range of candidates with differing policy approaches are given an opportunity to seek the support of eligible Hong Kong voters,” he added.
The Democratic chairman and top Republican lawmaker on the US Senate Subcommittee for East Asian and Pacific Affairs both expressed displeasure with China and said the Obama administration was not doing enough to defend the former British colony’s rights.
“It appears very clear to us China is influencing the implementation of universal suffrage in a way that’s inconsistent with the commitment they gave to respect international covenants, civil and political rights,” Democratic Senator and subcommittee chairman Ben Cardin said.
The panel’s ranking Republican, US Senator Marco Rubio, said: “It is clear that our response to the democratic aspirations of people on the mainland or anywhere else when it comes to China are muted by real political, realpolitik considerations.”
In Beijing, the Chinese government yesterday reiterated that foreign countries should not stoke trouble in Hong Kong following Russel’s comments.
“Hong Kong affairs belong to China’s domestic affairs,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying (華春瑩) said at a regular briefing, stressing that Beijing is opposed to any outside interference.
“We have repeatedly expounded on our solemn position on some foreign individuals’ and forces’ attempts to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs or even incite or support illegal activities such as Occupy Central,” she said.
Hua said that Hong Kong’s continued stability and prosperity were in the interests of both China and other countries.
“We hope that relevant countries will match words with deeds, honor their commitment and do more to promote the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong,” she said.
TRAGEDY STRIKES TAIPEI: The suspect died after falling off a building after he threw smoke grenades into Taipei Main Station and went on a killing spree in Zhongshan A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and seven injured, including one in critical condition, as of press time last night. The suspect, identified as a man surnamed Chang Wen (張文), allegedly began the attack at Taipei Main Station, the Taipei Fire Department said, adding that it received a report at 5:24pm that smoke grenades had been thrown in the station. One man in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a cardiac arrest
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
RSS