The recent march for democracy in Hong Kong earlier this month highlights the inadequacies of applying China's "one country, two systems" formula in Taiwan, according to experts on cross-strait relations yesterday at a forum organized by the Friends of Hong Kong and Macau Association.
"It is no longer possible to push for the `one country, two systems' model in Taiwan using Hong Kong's example anymore. Ironically, China is now attempting to block Hong Kong's democratization by likening it to the movement for Taiwan's independence," said Chen Ming-tong (
According to the march's organizers, as many as 530,000 people turned out to participate in a march for democracy in Hong Kong on July 1, the seventh anniversary of the former British colony's return to China. Hong Kong police estimated the size of the crowd to be around 200,000. The participants demanded direct elections and expressed dissatisfaction with China's hand-picked leader, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (
"Since Hong Kong's July 1 protest last year, and the referendum and presidential elections in Taiwan, China has begun to use Taiwan to suppress Hong Kong by portraying Taiwan's democratization as societal division and turmoil," said Chang Wu-yen (
Despite the effort to "demonize democracy in Taiwan," as the lecturers referred to Beijing's tactics, Chang said that the only way to overcome challenges to democratization is through increased efforts to secure democracy.
Chao Chien-min (
"What Taiwan needs now is to seek greater levels of complexity. For example, we've never before had an assassination attempt on the president before an election. Now we have to implement judicial investigations and other mechanisms. This is all part of a process to erect democratic institutions," Chao said.
Chao said the different levels of institutional complexity are an indication of democratic consolidation.
"Hong Kong is also working on erecting institutions. But while Taiwan seeks institutional complexity in democracy, Hong Kong seeks the institution of democracy itself. It is the same with China, but at a much lower level. China is going from having no laws to having laws," Chao said.
Chen also explained the function of institutional complexity, pointing to the need to resolve all situations without resorting to extra-legal or extra-institutional mechanisms.
"It is important that the government look for a systemic solution to every problem. The establishment of a special committee to investigate the March 19 shooting incident is an example of the effort to resolve problems using institutional mechanisms," Chen said.
"To resolve the election controversies using institutional mechanisms despite a polarized society -- that is the real significance of the presidential election," Chen added.
Despite resistance from Beijing however, Chen yesterday likened democratization to a rock rolling down a hill, pointing to the gathering momentum and inevitability of the process.
"The staging of a protest in Hong Kong again this year indicates that the July 1 demonstration could take place on a regular basis until goals are achieved. Hong Kong's democratization has begun, and it is like a rock being shoved off a mountain -- if you stand in the way, it will crush you, and it will gain momentum as it falls," Chen said.
"Hong Kong is now being transformed from Hong Kong, Ltd, or just a large company, into a political entity. Its situation is typical of post-colonial countries -- now that the colonizer is gone, Hong Kong begins to think about self-governance. Thus China is just an external stimulus to Hong Kong's democratic movement. It is really the will to self-governance that is the driving force behind democratization," Chao said.
"China's main concern in blocking democratization in Hong Kong is its own prosperity and stability, but China is now surrounded by democratizing nations on all sides ... perhaps Hong Kong will be the straw that broke the camel's back," Tung Li-wen (
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