In a statement marking the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday denounced Beijing for openly reneging on the Sino-British Joint Declaration, turning the “pearl of the Orient” into a place of “nightmares.”
Together with the Hong Kong National Security Law, China’s amendments to its counterespionage law, which went into effect yesterday, would only bring more fear and oppression to the territory, the DPP said.
The Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress previously redefined what counts as a spy to include spy organizations or their agents that attack critical infrastructure, carry out cyberattacks against state organizations or intelligence units, or financially profit from such acts.
Photo: AP
The DPP said that the expanded definition had caused many foreigners in China and Hong Kong to fear for their personal safety, adding that recent reports of a “blacklist” for Taiwanese in Hong Kong mean there is an increased risk facing Taiwanese doing business there.
Beijing’s oppressive and autocratic rule of Hong Kong underscores how the regime runs contrary to universal values, the DPP said.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should stop repressing the people of Hong Kong and address the concerns of the international community and those of Hong Kongers by restoring the territory’s freedom and glory, it said.
A ban on gatherings on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre on June 4, as well as on July 1, only shows the world that the so-called promises of autocratic governments are not credible, the party added.
The DPP cited the Mainland Affairs Council as saying that experts, legislators and regular Taiwanese have reported many irregularities when visiting China over the past few years, adding that such acts would not help endear the CCP to the international community.
The party urged Beijing and the Hong Kong government to stop oppressing Hong Kongers, to once again observe the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and allow Hong Kongers to have a greater degree of autonomy and enjoy a democratic society ruled by law.
It added that it would continue to stand on the side of democracy and freedom, and jointly condemn the CCP’s autocratic ways with the international community.
The DPP said it would support Hong Kong’s resolution to defend and seek democracy and freedom, adding that it would also be more resolute in defending a democratic and free Taiwan.
National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) yesterday promised it would increase oversight of use of Chinese in course materials, following a social media outcry over instances of simplified Chinese characters being used, including in a final exam. People on Threads wrote that simplified Chinese characters were used on a final exam and in a textbook for a translation course at the university, while the business card of a professor bore the words: “Taiwan Province, China.” Photographs of the exam, the textbook and the business card were posted with the comments. NKUST said that other members of the faculty did not see
The Taipei City Government yesterday said contractors organizing its New Year’s Eve celebrations would be held responsible after a jumbo screen played a Beijing-ran television channel near the event’s end. An image showing China Central Television (CCTV) Channel 3 being displayed was posted on the social media platform Threads, sparking an outcry on the Internet over Beijing’s alleged political infiltration of the municipal government. A Taipei Department of Information and Tourism spokesman said event workers had made a “grave mistake” and that the Television Broadcasts Satellite (TVBS) group had the contract to operate the screens. The city would apply contractual penalties on TVBS
A new board game set against the backdrop of armed conflict around Taiwan is to be released next month, amid renewed threats from Beijing, inviting players to participate in an imaginary Chinese invasion 20 years from now. China has ramped up military activity close to Taiwan in the past few years, including massing naval forces around the nation. The game, titled 2045, tasks players with navigating the troubles of war using colorful action cards and role-playing as characters involved in operations 10 days before a fictional Chinese invasion of Taiwan. That includes members of the armed forces, Chinese sleeper agents and pro-China politicians
The lowest temperature in a low-lying area recorded early yesterday morning was in Miaoli County’s Gongguan Township (公館), at 6.8°C, due to a strong cold air mass and the effect of radiative cooling, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. In other areas, Chiayi’s East District (東區) recorded a low of 8.2°C and Yunlin County’s Huwei Township (虎尾) recorded 8.5°C, CWA data showed. The cold air mass was at its strongest from Saturday night to the early hours of yesterday. It brought temperatures down to 9°C to 11°C in areas across the nation and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties,
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