China’s application of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong proves that it is inappropriate for Taiwan, Brookings Institution Taiwan Studies director and former American Institute in Taiwan chairman Richard Bush said.
The whole idea has become a “major obstacle” to China achieving its political objectives with respect to Taiwan, Bush told a Washington hearing into the future of democracy in Hong Kong held by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
The commision’s chairman, Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, said that Bush had mentioned fears in the highest echelons of the Chinese government that Hong Kong might look too much like Taiwan in terms of democracy.
He asked Bush how the Hong Kong protests had impacted Taiwan.
“It is my impression that after the initial media coverage of the Hong Kong situation, public attention in Taiwan was diverted to other issues,” Bush said.
“What has happened in Hong Kong, and what is likely to happen in Hong Kong, only confirms a long-held belief that the two entities should not be treated under the same framework as China is trying to do,” he added.
Brown said news reports suggested that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had developed a closer friendship with China compared with former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
If Taiwan was moving toward “some kind of Chinese model,” Brown said, he wondered how the Hong Kong protests might affect the situation.
Bush said that what was happening in Hong Kong contributed to a trend that was already in play.
“The Ma administration and China have grabbed all the low-hanging fruit in terms of the sorts of cooperation they can get,” Bush said.
He said that Taiwanese politics had been immobilized earlier this year by the Sunflower movement.
“Where China would really like to go on cross-strait relations is political talks and President Ma has correctly been very wary of going down that road because he is very committed to the idea of the Republic of China,” Bush said. “And that is something that Beijing doesn’t want to talk about.”
Bush said that Ma, who was born in Hong Kong, came out a few weeks ago with a very strong statement in favor of democracy in Hong Kong and the peaceful protests going on there.
“Beijing was profoundly unhappy with his statement and felt that he was sticking his nose where it didn’t belong,” Bush said.
Asked by Brown if the Sunflower movement in Taiwan had served as a template for what was happening in Hong Kong, Bush said there had been a lot of interaction between activists “exchanging experiences and techniques.”
He said that the interaction could play into the China “narrative” that the Hong Kong protests were fueled by “a bunch of black hands from the US, Taiwan and so forth.”
However, the Hong Kong protests were “definitely homegrown,” he said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
RSS