Washington must temper its enthusiasm—and especially avoid any manifestations of meddling.
The American Conservative
Date: September 23, 2019
By: Ted Galen Carpenter
Hong Kong’s most visible pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong joins Taiwan’s New Power Party
(L-R) Hong Kong’s pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, Taiwan’s New Power Party chairman Huang Kuo-chang, Taiwan’s “Sunflower Movement” leaders Li Fei-fan and Chen Wei-ting chant slogans to demand the Chinese government release detained Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-cheh during a press conference in Taipei on April 2, 2017.
China said March 29 it has detained a Taiwanese rights activist who went missing during a visit and is investigating him for suspected activities “endangering national security.” / AFP PHOTO / Sam YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrations appear to be having a major impact on Taiwan’s presidential campaign in advance of its January 2020 election.
Protest leaders urge the Taiwanese to express emphatic vocal support for Hong Kong’s democratic aspirations. To a large extent, that is already happening. Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, frequently speaks out in favor of the Hong Kong demonstrators and their demands, infuriating Beijing. Protests in Hong Kong have made the Taiwanese “increasingly treasure” their democracy and “deeply feel” what it would be like if China treated them the way it’s handling Hong Kong, Tsai said in June.
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