President Ma Ying-jeou has reaffirmed his support for the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Ma was speaking Tuesday at a ruling KMT’s meeting.
Ma said he fully understands and is supportive of Hong Kong residents’ call for universal suffrage as freedom and democracy are Taiwan’s core values. Ma also called on China and the Hong Kong government to seek a consensus through talks in a rational way.
The president said China should keep its pledge to allow the "rule of Hong Kong by the people of Hong Kong,” “a high degree of autonomy,” and “election of the chief executive through universal suffrage” for 50 years.
Meanwhile, President Ma Ying-jeou said he will not discuss unification with China during his tenure as president. That’s the word from a CNN article published Tuesday on its website. The article is entitled “Taiwan president will deal with China but not at expense of sovereignty.”
During a recent interview with CNN reporters at the Presidential Office, Ma said he would “not promote independence, let alone the use of force” either. That’s because he believes “it is essential to achieving a stable and lasting framework for peaceful development.”
The CNN said the president “is faced with a hugely delicate act: the need to maintain good economic relations with China while trying to keep Beijing’s push for reunification at bay.”
As to the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Ma said Taiwan is closely watching “whether Beijing will honor its initial promises on universal suffrage.” The president also said he “does not fear that Taiwan will become a second Hong Kong” as the two are completely different cases.