Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislators reacted to violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators in Hong Kong by yesterday calling on the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government to suspend talks with China.
TSU caucus whip Lai Zhen-chang (賴振昌) said that China has broken the promises it gave to Tibet in the 17-Point Peace Agreement signed in 1951 and those given to Hong Kong — that it would be allowed autonomy for at least 50 years — prior to China’s takeover of the territory in 1997.
“This shows that any agreements signed with China are meaningless,” he said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
TSU Legislator Chou Ni-an (周倪安) said that as Taiwan and Hong Kong have between 40 and 50 percent dependency on foreign trade, “We should learn the lesson from Hong Kong on what might happen when we are economically overdependent on China.”
“The TSU condemns Hong Kong police for violence against student protesters and we voice our support for Hong Kong’s campaign for democracy,” she added. “We also call on the government to learn from Hong Kong and suspend the signing of any agreements with China.”
Separately, voicing their support for the pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday said they would propose a resolution against China’s “one country, two systems” framework.
“The DPP caucus strongly condemns violent crackdowns and any acts against democracy,” DPP caucus whip Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a news conference at the caucus office yesterday. “The caucus will also propose a resolution to show our concerns for the democratic movement in Hong Kong, as well as our objection to the ‘one country, two systems’ scheme.”
DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said that what is happening in Hong Kong is a lesson for Taiwan.
“I felt saddened last night when I saw a picture on the Internet of a man holding a placard that read: ‘I am Hong Kongese; I would like to urge all Taiwanese to stand on our corpses and think about your future,’” he said. “The crackdown in Hong Kong teaches the lesson that ‘one country, two systems’ is only a big lie. No matter which political party you support, all Taiwanese should show support for Hong Kong’s democracy [movement].”
Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said Saturday that she would not be intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), following reports that Chinese agents planned to ram her car during a visit to the Czech Republic last year. "I had a great visit to Prague & thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality & ensuring my safety," Hsiao said on social media platform X. "The CCP's unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community," she wrote. Hsiao visited the Czech Republic on March 18 last year as vice president-elect and met with Czech Senate leadership, including
There have been clear signs of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attempts to interfere in the nationwide recall vote on July 26 in support of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators facing recall, an unnamed government official said, warning about possible further actions. The CCP is actively involved in Taiwanese politics, and interference in the recall vote is to be expected, with multiple Chinese state media and TAO attempts to discredit the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and undermine public support of their recall movement, the official said. This interference includes a smear campaign initiated this month by a pro-Beijing Hong Kong news outlet against
A week-long exhibition on modern Tibetan history and the Dalai Lama’s global advocacy opened yesterday in Taipei, featuring quotes and artworks highlighting human rights and China’s ongoing repression of Tibetans, Hong Kongers and Uighurs. The exhibition, the first organized by the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan (HRNTT), is titled “From the Snowy Ridges to the Ocean of Wisdom.” “It would be impossible for Tibetans inside Tibet to hold an exhibition like this — we can do it. because we live in a free and democratic country,” HRNTT secretary-general Tashi Tsering said. Tashi Tsering, a Taiwan-based Tibetan who has never
A first shipment of five tons of Taiwan tilapia was sent from Tainan to Singapore on Wednesday, following an order valued at NT$600,000 (US$20,500) placed with a company in the city. The products, including frozen whole fish and pre- cooked fish belly, were dispatched from Jiangjun Fishing Harbor, where a new aquatic processing and logistics center is under construction. At the launch, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) called the move a “breakthrough,” marking Taiwan’s expansion into the Singaporean tilapia market. Taiwan’s tilapia exports have traditionally focused on the United States, Canada, and the Middle East, Huang said, adding that the new foothold in