Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen urges rejection of ‘one country, two systems’ model she says fails Hong Kong
- In address marking 108th anniversary of founding of the Republic of China, Tsai says protection of Taiwanese sovereignty is not provocation, but her responsibility
- Tsai’s speech is rejection of President Xi Jinping’s National Day call for talks on unification
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has denounced Beijing for its efforts to force the island into unification talks under the “one country, two systems” model which, she said, is failing Hong Kong.
In her address on Thursday marking the 108th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China – Taiwan’s official name– Tsai called on its citizens to firmly reject that model, which she said would threaten the self-ruled island’s survival.
“But if we were to accept one country, two systems, there would no longer be room for the Republic of China’s existence. As president, standing up to protect national sovereignty is not a provocation – it is my fundamental responsibility,” Tsai said.
Hong Kong is in the 18th week of protests triggered by a now-withdrawn extradition bill which was, campaigners claimed, orchestrated by Beijing so that dissidents could be sent to the mainland for trial.