President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday said Taiwan would pay a painful price if it allows conservative forces to comeback into power.
"Democracy cannot go backward and reform cannot be undone. If we stop moving forward or are forced to take a step back and revert to authoritarian rule again, we will have a painful price to pay and our vision for democracy will never be realized," Chen said at the opening ceremony of an international conference discussing Hong Kong's experiences under the "one country, two systems" formula since its return to China in 1997.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
The conference was held by pro-independence think tank Taiwan Advocates (群策會), of which Lee is chairman.
Addressing the conference alongside Chen, Lee said, "If Taiwan cannot defend its hard-won democratic achievements and allows the resurrection of a conservative power, the country will be forced to live under the shadow of the "one China" principle.
"This is the most important choice Taiwan's people will be face in less than seven months time," Lee said, referring to the presidential election due to be held next March
In his speech, Chen said China's attempts to impose an anti-subversion law on Hong Kong revealed a reversal of democracy and broke Beijing's commitment to allow Hong Kong to remain free from interference for 50 years.
"I would like to use this opportunity to urge the Chinese leadership to respect and protect people's choice and embrace the universal values of democracy, peace and human rights," Chen said.
Lee also said the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong had taken the territory backward both socially, economically and politically.
"Economically, the fantasy of a prosperous Hong Kong is breaking down while, politically, the anti-subversion law has undermined China's commitment to give Hong Kong 50 years of self-autonomy," Lee said.
In contrast to Hong Kong, Lee said Taiwan has been able to undertake a substantial political and economic transformation thanks to the nation "forsaking any unrealistic expectations of China and seeking an identity on the basis of its 23 million people."
However, Lee urged Taiwan not to rest on its laurels because of its democratic and economic achievements and instead strengthen the development of its national identity in the face of and Taiwan's internal pro-China forces as well as China's persistent calls to the "one China" principle, calls which undermine the will of Taiwan's people to be independent.
The two-day international conference, held in the Grand Hotel Taipei, drew more than 600 participants and saw a number of distinguished speakers, including former chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan Nat Bellocchi, Japanese expert on international relations Maneo Nakajima, Hong Kong legislative councilors Emily Lau (劉慧卿) and James To (涂謹申), Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and prominent academics from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Bellocchi delivered a speech titled "Hong Kong and Taiwan -- Choice Makes the Difference," asserting that the fundamental political differences between China and Taiwan are so wide that using the "one country, two systems" principle even as a starting point for resolving that difference is simply "impractical."
"The overwhelming difference between the two is in their political history and their political system that makes the `one country, two systems' so improbable for Taiwan. Unlike Hong Kong, Taiwan has a choice and that makes a difference," Bellocchi said.
Meanwhile, pro-democracy councilor Lau, who was attacked by the territory's media for collaborating with Taiwan's pro-independence forces by attending the conference, denied the allegations and said she is not a puppet of any faction in Taiwan.
"I speak for myself. If I can't even attend the meeting out my own will, what would people in Taiwan think about the `one country, two systems' principle?' That we don't even have the freedom to attend a meeting? It's ridiculous!" Lau said.Also See Stories:
HK formula hinders democracy
Article 23 poses dangers, legislators warn
Taiwan must now choose democracy, professor insists
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College