Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen urges Beijing not to misjudge the situation in New Year speech

In Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a New Year's speech in which she reiterated her concern about the situation in Hong Kong and stressed that the military was not an option for resolving cross-strait differences, urging Beijing not to misjudge the situation.

In her 2022 New Year's speech at the presidential palace, Tsai Ing-wen set out the four main plans for her administration this year, including continuation on global engagement, maintaining the economic momentum, strengthening the social security network, and safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty.

She said that the interference in the election of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and the arrest of media personnel had raised concerns about human rights and freedom of speech in Hong Kong.

"The pursuit of democracy and freedom is not a crime, and Taiwan's position in support of Hong Kong will not change. Aside from showing our concern, we will cherish our own hard-earned freedom and democracy even more deeply", Tsai said.

Source: Now News #Jan01

https://news.now.com/home/international/player?newsId=461848&refer=Share

#Taiwan #TsaiIngWen #LegislativeCouncil #Election #TheStandNews #Arrest #PressFreedom

[Translator note: Some wordings are following the report from Focus Taiwan, a CNA English News agency]

#ProtestFilm #Interview
#KiwiChow, Director of #RevolutionOfOurTimes: "This film is for everyone"

Directed by Hong Kong director Kiwi Chow, "Revolution Of Our Times" is an award-winning documentary capturing the pro-democracy demonstrations that erupted in Hong Kong in 2019.

Just within the 14 days of its release in Taiwan, the film has set a box office record for an overseas Chinese-language documentary.

Even #TsaiIngWen, the president of Taiwan, watched it and endorsed the film.

Taking to Twitter, President Tsai stated, 'Hong Kong people's courage and commitment to democracy are an inspiration to us all, as we work to preserve our own freedoms and way of life.'

In an interview, director #KiwiChow thanked Tsai Ing-wen for supporting the documentary openly on social media and calling on people across the political spectrum to watch it.

#RevolutionOfOurTimes #NeverForget #HongKongFilm #Taiwan

Source: PSHK
https://fb.watch/bP5U8NMXmv/

Pompeo Awarded Medal in Visit to Taiwan, Beijing Cries “Shameless and Futile”

Former #US state secretary #MikePompeo was received by President #TsaiIngwen at her office on 3 March during his visit to #Taiwan.

In her meeting with the visitors, who came wearing a mask emblazoned with US and Taiwan flags, and Chinese words ‘firm as a rock’, Tsai thanked Pompeo on behalf of the Taiwan people for his contribution to multiple breakthroughs in #TaiwanUSRelations and supported Taiwan’s participation in the international community during his tenure as the US secretary of state. She also awarded him the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, Taiwan's top honours, for his efforts to elevate Taiwan-US relations, which includes lifting US restrictions on official interactions with Taiwan, regularising arms sales to Taiwan, and raising the level of mutual visits by senior officials between Taiwan and the US.

In #Beijing, spokesperson for the foreign ministry #WangWenbin called Pompeo’s visit “shameless” and “futile”.

Source: Hong Kong Economic Journal #Mar04

https://bit.ly/3CnfxS9