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.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from