President Ma Ying-jeou is calling on China to use prudence and peaceful means to handle the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Ma was speaking on Monday at the opening ceremony of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce.
More than 60,000 people took to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to call for fair and direct elections of its chief executive. Thousands of protesters were still blocking the streets on Monday and the standoff between riot police and democracy activists has intensified.
Ma said Taiwan fully understands and is supportive of the call, as democracy would be a win-win situation for both Hong Kong and China.
Ma also said that given that Hong Kong is a global financial center, any political instability would have a major impact on Asia and even the world. The president called for both sides to exercise restraint.
“We are urging China to listen to the voice of the people of Hong Kong and handle the matter with prudence and peaceful means," said Ma. "We are also calling on Hong Kong residents to use peaceful and rational ways to press for their demands. That’s because we do not want to see any conflicts.”
In an earlier interview with Al Jazeera English, the president said he hoped that China would be able to keep its promise to allow Hong Kong residents to rule the former British colony themselves.