Top Beijing officials urge resolution against Taiwan independence at Hong Kong conference
Hong Kong Free Press
Top Beijing officials have urged for a resolution against Taiwan independence at a conference held in Hong Kong, with one of them saying the city’s One Country, Two Systems political framework is a key to “China’s reunification.”
Hong Kong on Tuesday hosted the annual Overseas Chinese World Conference for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China, a conference that is organised by a body under the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. The conference has historically aimed to promote the unification of China and Taiwan.
The United Front strategy seeks to coordinate efforts to exert Beijing’s influence and control in Hong Kong through the Communist Party’s Liaison Office in Sai Wan.
The Republic of China (ROC) government has ruled Taiwan since 1945 after Japan was defeated in World War II, ending 50 years of occupation. The ROC authorities fully retreated to the island in 1949 as the communist People’s Republic of China defeated them in the Civil War and took control of the mainland. Beijing has since claimed democratic Taiwan as one of its provinces, threatening to unify it by force if necessary.
See also: Explainer – Is Taiwan a country? The self-ruled island’s disputed status
The conference was officiated by Shi Taifeng, the director of the United Front Work Department who is also a Politburo member. Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo’s Standing Committee and China’s leading political theorist, also sent a message that was read out in the event.
“A strong and unified [China] is the fate of all Chinese sons and daughters including Taiwanese compatriots,” Wang said in a letter read out by Chen Xiaojiang, executive deputy head of the United Front Work Department.
‘Dead end’
Shi, who arrived in Hong Kong on Monday for an inspection tour, accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan of “stubbornly holding onto Taiwan independence and recklessly enflaming antagonism across the strait.”
“But … the initiative to solve the Taiwan problem is in the grip of the mainland side,” Shi said in Mandarin during a keynote speech. He called Taiwan independence a “historical countercurrent” and a “dead end.”
“Regardless of which party is ruling in Taiwan, it cannot change the … historical trend of China’s reunification,” he added.
DPP’s Lai Ching-te secured a historic third-term for the party in January’s election, and has vowed to continue the foreign and domestic policies put forward by his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen.
Taiwan’s relationship with mainland China soured under Tsai, who favoured securing the island’s position on the global stage and maintaining relations with the US.
Beijing had called Lai a “dangerous separatist” who will bring “war and decline” to Taiwan. He did not run on a pro-independence platform, but favours the status quo.
Shi also said that Hong Kong’s unique One Country, Two Systems political framework offered “an important reference” for the country’s unification, a proposal that Taiwan’s main political parties have all rejected.
“The continuous development of the One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong will play an important role for the complete reunification of the motherland,” he said.
In June, Beijing included the death penalty for “particularly serious” cases among judicial guidelines on criminal punishments for “diehard” supporters of Taiwanese independence.
‘Success’
Hong Kong has been governed under the One Country, Two Systems framework since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The framework proposes that the city would keep its capitalist system and lifestyle apart from mainland China’s socialist system after the Handover.
Speaking in the same event, Chief Executive John Lee said the framework had brought unique advantages to the city, including a proximity to the mainland, a connection with the world, and a high degree of rule of law.
“The success of Hong Kong since the Handover adequately demonstrates that the One Country, Two Systems framework is the solution to historical problems of a similar nature, and the system that fosters global peace,” Lee said in Mandarin.
The annual conference was first held in Berlin, Germany, in 2000. Hong Kong last hosted the event in 2010.
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