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 (
Alain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man," praised Alex Honnold as exceptionally well-prepared after the US climber completed a free solo ascent of Taipei 101 yesterday. Robert said Honnold's ascent of the 508m-tall skyscraper in just more than one-and-a-half hours without using safety ropes or equipment was a remarkable achievement. "This is my life," he said in an interview conducted in French, adding that he liked the feeling of being "on the edge of danger." The 63-year-old Frenchman climbed Taipei 101 using ropes in December 2004, taking about four hours to reach the top. On a one-to-10 scale of difficulty, Robert said Taipei 101
Nipah virus infection is to be officially listed as a category 5 notifiable infectious disease in Taiwan in March, while clinical treatment guidelines are being formulated, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. With Nipah infections being reported in other countries and considering its relatively high fatality rate, the centers on Jan. 16 announced that it would be listed as a notifiable infectious disease to bolster the nation’s systematic early warning system and increase public awareness, the CDC said. Bangladesh reported four fatal cases last year in separate districts, with three linked to raw date palm sap consumption, CDC Epidemic Intelligence
Taiwanese and US defense groups are collaborating to introduce deployable, semi-autonomous manufacturing systems for drones and components in a boost to the nation’s supply chain resilience. Taiwan’s G-Tech Optroelectronics Corp subsidiary GTOC and the US’ Aerkomm Inc on Friday announced an agreement with fellow US-based Firestorm Lab to adopt the latter’s xCell, a technology featuring 3D printers fitted in 6.1m container units. The systems enable aerial platforms and parts to be produced in high volumes from dispersed nodes capable of rapid redeployment, to minimize the risk of enemy strikes and to meet field requirements, they said. Firestorm chief technology officer Ian Muceus said
MORE FALL: An investigation into one of Xi’s key cronies, part of a broader ‘anti-corruption’ drive, indicates that he might have a deep distrust in the military, an expert said China’s latest military purge underscores systemic risks in its shift from collective leadership to sole rule under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), and could disrupt its chain of command and military capabilities, a national security official said yesterday. If decisionmaking within the Chinese Communist Party has become “irrational” under one-man rule, the Taiwan Strait and the regional situation must be approached with extreme caution, given unforeseen risks, they added. The anonymous official made the remarks as China’s Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia (張又俠) and Joint Staff Department Chief of Staff Liu Zhenli (劉振立) were reportedly being investigated for suspected “serious
RSS