Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan, wrote on Facebook to express her concern over the situation in Hong Kong.

The post is translated as below:

"The government should never shoot at unarmed civilian. This is only going to make the matter worse.

Beijing and the Hong Kong government should answer Hong Kong citizens with the promise of democracy but not bullets.

I feel very sorry about the recent happenings in Hong Kong. Here again, I am calling the Hong Kong government to fix the problem through holding conversations with the public, treating Hong Kong citizens' demand for democracy seriously and provide a concrete response. I believe this is the only way to get everything back on track.

I sincerely hope that Taiwan's commitment to democracy and freedom can serve as Hong Kong's target."

Source: Facebook@Tsai Ing-wen, https://www.facebook.com/tsaiingwen/posts/10156214046946065

#Nov11 #DPP #Taiwan #TsaiIngWen #PoliceState #HongkongProtests #OperationDawn #GlobalSupport

#Taiwan #DPP #ChenChiMai

DPP's Representative Chen Chi-mai Elected as Taiwan's Kaohsiung Mayor

Chen Chi-mai, spokesperson of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, won the mayoral by-election in Kaosiung, Taiwan on August 15 by a wide margin.

The former mayor Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT), the opposition camp in Taiwan, was ousted after receiving heavy criticism of his Beijing-friendly stance and following a recall vote in June, 2020.

According to the Kaohsiung City Election Commission, Chen received over 70 percent of the votes, while the KMT candidate Jane Lee marked the lowest number of votes the opposition party has obtained in Kaohsiung since 2014. Chen promised to focus on industrial transformation, job creation, the reduction of air pollution and building transport infrastructure in the city.

Source: RTHK; Taipei Times Aug15
Photo: Chen Chi-mai's Facebook #Aug15
#HanKuoYu #KMT

#Taiwan Condemns Hong Kong Authorities' Crackdown on #StandNews

On December 29, 2021, Taiwan's three major political parties all issued statements in response to Hong Kong Police's crackdown on Stand News, expressing their concern and condemnation.

Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (#DPP), expressed "indignation and resentment" at the Hong Kong police's flagrant actions, searching media offices and arresting promoters of freedom and democracy. They consider these acts as strangling Hong Kong's freedom of expression and creating a chilling effect among media and public opinion. The DPP calls on the international community and Taiwan to continue observing Hong Kong's development.

The statement by New Power Party (#NPP) calls the actions by Hong Kong's national security police "disproportional", causing serious damage to the freedom of press, and effectively nullifies the rights laid out in the Basic Law: "Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike."

#Kuomintang, Taiwan's current opposition party, expressed deep concern that the authorities shut down a media company that spoke up for different public opinions and upheld principles of democracy, freedom, and human rights. They called on Chinese authorities to respect the younger generation's view of democratic values and freedom of speech. As Hong Kong had been the revolutionary headquarter of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, Hong Kong's democracy and freedom are deeply tied to the pursuit of democracy and freedom on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Citizen News; Liberty Times #Dec29
https://www.facebook.com/366243453719070/posts/1618965958446807/

https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3784313

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Arrest #Regime #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution

#PoliticalOppression
Lee Ming-che urges Hongkongers to fight for their freedom

A human rights activist, a community college administrator, and a former member of Taiwanese political parties including the Democratic Progressive Party (#DPP), Lee Ming-che was arrested by the Chinese government after he entered China via Macau on March 19, 2017.

Lee was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly subverting state power. He was released on April 14 after finishing his prison sentence and returned to Taiwan the next day.

In Lee's interview with the Chaser News, he praised the wisdom of the pro-democratic frontline protesters in their fight against police brutality, which moves everyone on the scene.

This was the first time that Lee talked about the Anti-Extradition Bill movement in Hong Kong.

In his view, the movement showed collaboration between the sensible peace-loving protesters and those courageous frontline activists. During the time, he also saw solidarity inside and outside the Legislative Council. He was deeply impressed.

Walking out from political prosecution in China and regaining freedom, Lee is thankful to those who supported him both domestically and Internationally.

Lee stressed that he will carry on his work defending human rights and prisoners' rights.

Lee is hoping that his experience could help reveal the despicable acts of the Chinese Communist Party. He wanted to become one of the defenders of democracy globally.

Lastly, Lee shared words of encouragement to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, “Freedom is always a war trophy than a present from the ruling power.”

Source: The Chaser News #May16

#PoliticalOppression #AntiExtraditionBill

https://t.me/the_chaser_news/703