On Wednesday 17th of July, Ambassador Liao´s opinion article "Taiwan stöder Hongkongborna" was published online on SVT Opinion (click here to read the editorial in Swedish). Below is the English translation of the article:

In June we have seen hundreds of thousands of demonstrators repeatedly taking to the streets of Hong Kong to protest against a proposed law that would allow the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. Their demonstrations, some of the largest in Hong Kong’s history, were instrumental in persuading the territory’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, to pause the bill. The Hong Kongers made use of freedoms that are denied in mainland China to protest against what they viewed as a breach of trust by Beijing over its promise of 50 years of autonomy for the city.

After Hong Kong was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997, with promises that it would be self-governing under a mechanism known as “one country, two systems”, the Hong Kongers have seen how China has gradually tightened its control over Hong Kong's electoral process.

This proposed extradition law points to an inherent flaw in the “one country, two systems” formula—the inability to be truly independent in such an arrangement. As the international community expresses concern for the continued erosion of Hong Kong’s liberties, it should be reminded that what Hong Kong is facing today is also what the world is facing—a China that is devoid of respect for human rights, political freedom and freedom of expression.

At the beginning of this year, China’s President Xi Jinping issued a veiled threat to Republic of China (Taiwan), saying that it “must and will be” reunited with mainland China and that our de facto independence could not continue forever. As a proposed compromise, he offered Taiwan the “one country, two systems” formula.

Yet it is strikingly and strangely ironic that he should offer this model to Taiwan at precisely the same time China is dismantling “one country, two systems” in all but name in Hong Kong. Hong Kong today is fighting to preserve its most basic freedoms.

Taiwan, in contrast, is a vibrant, flourishing democracy. In fact, it serves as a beacon for democracy, not only in Asia but also in the world, quoting former American president George W. Bush Jr. Why on earth would the people of Taiwan want to swap their freedoms for the “one country, two systems” formula?

The people of Hong Kong have good reason to resist Beijing’s authoritarian reach. Taiwan supports these brave souls as they exercise their freedom of speech and we stand in solidarity with them and their aspirations.

Taiwan - as the Republic of China - has been a sovereign country for 108 years, and we insist on maintaining the status quo of cross strait relations. This way, our democratic system and way of life can continue to serve as a model for ethnic Chinese people around the world, including the people on mainland China.

Daniel T.C. Liao,
Representative of Taipei Mission in Sweden
(Taiwan´s representative office in Sweden)