President Tsai Ing-wen says the Hong Kong government shouldn’t respond to public pursuit of freedom and democracy with bullets. Tsai was speaking Tuesday in an interview.
Tsai’s comments came a day after tensions between protestors and the police flared. The police shot a protestor while protesters set a pro-China man on fire. Both are in critical condition.
Tsai urged the HK government to talk to its people and give them more freedom and democracy.
Also on Tuesday, Premier Su Tseng-chang accused Hong Kong of using live bullets and tear gas to quell unarmed students. Su said it shows how people are treated under Chinese rule.
“That’s how China treats its people. China has promised to keep its ‘one country, two systems’ formula unchanged for 50 years. But it has changed. Therefore, Taiwanese people must be very cautious in the run-up to the presidential elections," said Su.
Taiwan will hold its presidential elections on January 11th. President Tsai Ing-wen is seeking a second term though she has yet to announce a running-mate.