One-country, two-systems looks shaky amid HK row

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WHAT OTHERS SAY
One-country, two-systems looks shaky amid HK row
The China Post
Taipei

TAIPEI: -- Chinese President Xi Jinping may be good at purging the Communist Party of his rivals or the country of corruption, but he seems a very bad salesman when trying to sell Taiwan his grand vision for a unified China.

After seeing how Beijing is turning a deaf ear to the Hong Kong people's vehement calls for true democratic reform, some scepticism could be forgiven toward Xi's talk of cross-strait unification through the peculiar doctrine of one-country, two-systems. The pro-democracy Occupy Central and student movements in the former British colony are actually as much about Taiwan's future as about Hong Kong's present predicament. China invented the one-country, two-systems doctrine as a way to retake Hong Kong and Macau from their colonisers. It was meant to placate citizens who had been living in a world very different from their communist "compatriots" on the mainland and who had been reluctant to return to the "motherland".

They were not offered any other option - neither by their departing colonisers nor by the incoming rulers. They had to accept the formula, hoping that Beijing would keep its promises that their way of life and most of their institutions would remain unchanged for 50 years, plus popular elections for their own government leader at some time in the future.

Barely two decades have passed, but changes in the former colonies - particularly in Hong Kong - have been obvious. Self-censorship among the press has been worsening, while conflicts between Hong Kong people and their mainland compatriots have been intensifying.

Hong Kong people have also been severely disappointed by the latest announcement concerning the election of their next government leader. Under the new plan, only Beijing-approved candidates would be allowed to run.

Hong Kong and Macau are supposed to be showcases of the one-country, two-systems doctrine, which has Taiwan as its ultimate target. Trying to dismiss growing scepticism over the doctrine, Xi on Friday met with representatives of several Taiwanese pro-unification groups he had invited.

During the meeting, he reiterated China's goal of peaceful unification with Taiwan based on his government's one-country, two-systems formula.

He told his guests, including New Party chairman Yok Mu-ming, that he understands that people on both sides of the strait have been living very different lives, and that he respects the Taiwanese people's wishes and opinions.

But he also asked the Taiwanese people to understand and respect how mainland Chinese think and feel about unification, condemning and warning those who promote the island's independence. Xi's talk about mutual respect and understanding seems fair. But is it?

His talk is founded on the principle that both sides of the strait must unite. He made it clear that China will never give up this principle.

Such a principle forecloses the other major option, which is independence for Taiwan.

It really means that the Taiwanese people's wishes can be respected and fulfilled as long as they conform to China's pre-set framework. Whatever Beijing agrees to will be given to Taiwan, and whatever Beijing doesn't agree to will be denied.

It is conditional mutual respect and understanding where Taiwan must heed the 1.3 billion compatriots' wish for unification.

For China, it is always a one-sided game - 1.3 billion people in China versus 23 million in Taiwan. The majority wins, of course.

Xi is a bad salesman trying to hard sell Taiwan a product that has already proven stale elsewhere. He hasn't even tried to sugar-coat the offering for Taiwan.

He has not said whether Taiwan might continue to popularly elect its own government leader in a truly democratic fashion after unification.

Beijing is afraid that a pro-democracy leader would become the next leader of the Hong Kong government and go on to create more trouble for China.

Beijing definitely has the same fears concerning the Taiwan situation. Will Beijing tolerate a pro-independence leader managing Taiwan after unification?

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/One-country-two-systems-looks-shaky-amid-HK-row-30244323.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-29

[ABCer]

For the last 10 - 20 years I was hoping that Communist Rule of China will follow the free flourishing economy and will be peacefully released to more Democratic form.

This is not happening. Very disappointing, but a fact.

Chinese Rulers are now wielding a more Autocracy internally and turn to more aggressive external policies: S. China Sea, H.K., Taiwan, Japan.

I am seriously concerned that the only way open for their aggression is to the North: Russia - the point of least resistance.

[Dogmatix]

It's starting to look like the Bangkok shutdown.

[Scott]

Off-topic posts have been deleted.

[Suradit69]

It's starting to look like the Bangkok shutdown.

Or the end of a British football match.

[Publicus]

The OP does a good job but fails to mention the radical new development in Taiwan of the Sunflower Revolution that earlier this year marked the end of Pres Ma Ying-jeou's policy of gravitating towards unification.

Led by students and joined by citizens, tens of thousands of demonstrators seized control of parliament and other government buildings to prevent voting on a new agreement that would give the CCP Boyz in Beijing unprecedented access to ownership of Taiwan corporations and involvement in the economy. The Ma and Guomindang ruling party proposed agreement is dead, kaput.

Sunflower Revolution demonstrators occupy Taiwan parliament April 2014.

And now Pres Ma has had to recant his interview in Germany saying Taiwan and Beijing can pursue a German style reunification. Ma had to backtrack after the independence oriented Democratic Progressive Party party said Taiwan is in fact West Germany and that the PRC is East Germany.

The Sunflower Revolution hitched up with democracy activists in Hong Kong who are calling Hong Kong West Berlin. The Sunflower Revolution and Cold War rhetoric and feelings prompted Xi Jinping to call his first meeting about Taiwan with carefully selected Taiwan leaders -- leaders of unconditional unification.

The DPP has seized the moment....

“What’s happening in Hong Kong now shows that ‘one country, two systems’ is a failure. Beijing should try to solve the problems in Hong Kong first, because its handling of the political situation in Hong Kong is a slap in its own face,” DPP caucus whip Tsai Chi-tsang （蔡其昌） said in the legislature.

“Before talking about ‘one country, two systems,’ Beijing had better ask how Hong Kongers feel about it first,” Tsai said.

The Sunflower Revolution began the series of events to include Xi calling friendly leaders in Taiwan that will culminate in a wipeout of the KMT in the local elections coming on Taiwan November 29th. The consensus on Taiwan is that the Nov 29th local elections will indicate how the next presidential election will go in 2016.

Pres Ma meanwhile is looking at an approval rating of 6% (six percent). Ma's own prime minister, Premier Jiang Yi-huah rebelled against Ma and the KMT when he said, "The government cannot accept the so-called “one country, two systems” arrangement described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as Beijing’s solution to solving the “Taiwan problem.”

Academia Sinica assistant research fellow Huang Kuo-chang, who is also one of the leaders of the Sunflower movement, called Xi’s remarks “ridiculous,” saying they are only suitable to “slaves wanting to gain favor with the CCP and should not be made public.”

“We understand that different people might have different interpretations of history, but China must not overlook the universal values of democracy and rule of law,” DPP spokesperson Huang Di-ying said. “Taiwanese insist on making cross-strait exchanges only on the basis of democracy, freedom and the rule of law. The DPP insists that the future of Taiwan should be decided solely by its 23 million citizens.”

Police use water cannons to disperse Sunflower Revolution demonstrators as they protest near Taiwan's government headquarters in Taipei, early morning March 24, 2014. Photo: Reuters/Cheng Ko.

[Baerboxer]

It's starting to look like the Bangkok shutdown.

Or the end of a British football match.

or most "Southern" American townships.

[jayjayjayjay]

The OP does a good job but fails to mention the radical new development in Taiwan of the Sunflower Revolution that earlier this year marked the end of Pres Ma Ying-jeou's policy of gravitating towards unification.

Led by students and joined by citizens, tens of thousands of demonstrators seized control of parliament and other government buildings to prevent voting on a new agreement that would give the CCP Boyz in Beijing unprecedented access to ownership of Taiwan corporations and involvement in the economy. The Ma and Guomindang ruling party proposed agreement is dead, kaput.

Sunflower Revolution demonstrators occupy Taiwan parliament April 2014.

And now Pres Ma has had to recant his interview in Germany saying Taiwan and Beijing can pursue a German style reunification. Ma had to backtrack after the independence oriented Democratic Progressive Party party said Taiwan is in fact West Germany and that the PRC is East Germany.

The Sunflower Revolution hitched up with democracy activists in Hong Kong who are calling Hong Kong West Berlin. The Sunflower Revolution and Cold War rhetoric and feelings prompted Xi Jinping to call his first meeting about Taiwan with carefully selected Taiwan leaders -- leaders of unconditional unification.

The DPP has seized the moment....

Whats happening in Hong Kong now shows that one country, two systems is a failure. Beijing should try to solve the problems in Hong Kong first, because its handling of the political situation in Hong Kong is a slap in its own face, DPP caucus whip Tsai Chi-tsang 蔡其昌 said in the legislature.

Before talking about one country, two systems, Beijing had better ask how Hong Kongers feel about it first, Tsai said.

The Sunflower Revolution began the series of events to include Xi calling friendly leaders in Taiwan that will culminate in a wipeout of the KMT in the local elections coming on Taiwan November 29th. The consensus on Taiwan is that the Nov 29th local elections will indicate how the next presidential election will go in 2016.

Pres Ma meanwhile is looking at an approval rating of 6% (six percent). Ma's own prime minister, Premier Jiang Yi-huah rebelled against Ma and the KMT when he said, "The government cannot accept the so-called one country, two systems arrangement described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as Beijings solution to solving the Taiwan problem.

Academia Sinica assistant research fellow Huang Kuo-chang, who is also one of the leaders of the Sunflower movement, called Xis remarks ridiculous, saying they are only suitable to slaves wanting to gain favor with the CCP and should not be made public.

We understand that different people might have different interpretations of history, but China must not overlook the universal values of democracy and rule of law, DPP spokesperson Huang Di-ying said. Taiwanese insist on making cross-strait exchanges only on the basis of democracy, freedom and the rule of law. The DPP insists that the future of Taiwan should be decided solely by its 23 million citizens.

Police use water cannons to disperse Sunflower Revolution demonstrators as they protest near Taiwan's government headquarters in Taipei, early morning March 24, 2014. Photo: Reuters/Cheng Ko.

Thank you for the detailed explaination/update.

[Publicus]

The perspiring Pres Ma yesterday dashed out to the front of the Sunflower Revolution marchers for Taiwan's continued absolute sovereignty by saying he supports the protesters in Hong Kong.

Ma has finally joined the 75% or so of the people of Taiwan who support the people of Hong Kong.

I suppose somebody somewhere on Taiwan might have heard him but Ma has been talking only to himself a lot lately. Even Xi Jinping has decided t ignore Ma by dropping quiet discussions and negotiations to meet with Ma, choosing instead to meet with the small bunch of pro-Beijing politicians of Taiwan.

The Sunflower Revolution's success in isolating the pro-Beijing Pres Ma has been instructive to Hong Kongers in their campaign to depose their Beijing puppet chief executive C.Y. Leung.

.