The Hong Kong government’s attempt to push through amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance aroused the opposition of millions of local people, and dozens of protesters were injured by the Hong Kong police who forcibly dispersed the mass.
The Hong Kong government claimed that it would suspend the legislative process of amending the ordinance and had no timetable to restart that process.
However, these claims failed to address the objections of the people of Hong Kong. Their ongoing protests against the bill have drawn intense international attention. The governments of Australia, the European Union, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all expressed concern and support for the people of Hong Kong in their fight for human rights and freedom.
China’s suppression of the rule of law and human rights in Hong Kong confirms the failure and infeasibility of “one country, two systems, “and lays bare the designs of China’s authoritarian system on democratic Taiwan.
The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) calls on all democratic nations to continue to speak out in support of the people of Hong Kong in their fight for human rights and freedom; to work together to uphold liberty, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; and to support the people of Taiwan as they defend their democracy and their right to determine their own future.
Taiwan’s position
People have the right to seek democracy and freedom, as well as the right to choose their way of life and the systems under which they live: As a beacon of democracy and a stronghold of freedom in Asia, Taiwan will always safeguard and support these values, and will continue to stand resolutely together with the people of Hong Kong—A free Taiwan supports the freedom of Hong Kong.
“One country, two systems” is not feasible, and democratic Taiwan will never accept it: The protests in Hong Kong against the draft extradition bill show that its people have no faith whatsoever in “one country, two systems.” On January 2, China’s President Xi Jinping called for a “one country, two systems “model for Taiwan.
Taiwan will never accept such an arrangement and will resolutely defend its sovereignty, democracy, freedom, and right to determine its own future.
All governments should be aware that the rights of their citizens stand to be affected by the passage of the draft extradition bill: As the US State Department has said, the passage of these amendments would damage Hong Kong’s business environment, and could further subject US citizens to the whims of China’s capricious judicial system.
In addition, by allowing extradition to China, the bill would affect not only the people of Hong Kong, but also Taiwanese and all other foreign nationals, who could be extradited to China while transiting through Hong Kong and thereby subjected to judicial proceedings on the basis of a unilateral determination by China of suspected criminal activity.
A democratic, prosperous and stable Hong Kong is in the interests of the people of Hong Kong, the region, and the world: Following Hong Kong’s handover, China has worked endlessly to undermine its freedom, human rights, and rule of law, damaging stability and prosperity. China’s intrusion runs against the interests of the people of Hong Kong, the Asia-Pacific region, and the world.
Taiwan will not accept a bill that may infringe upon human rights and the sovereignty of the Republic of China, and will not be party to an illegitimate law: Taiwan believes that cooperation to combat crime cannot come at the expense of sabotaging human rights. Taiwan calls on the Hong Kong government to listen seriously to the demands of protesters, strengthen dialogue with the people, and respect the basic right of its people to peacefully assemble. (PR)