Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said that the nation will provide “necessary assistance,” to the people of Hong Kong after a resurgence in protests against a newly proposed national security legislation from China.
In the initial 4 months of 2020, the number of Hong Kong immigrants to Taiwan leapt 150 per cent to 2,383. Since protests began in 2019, Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong.
Ing-wen added that bullets and repression are not the way to deal with the aspirations of Hong Kong's people for freedom and democracy. “In face of the changing situation, the international community has proactively stretched out a helping hand to Hong Kong's people,” she was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.
Ing-wen, who won Taiwan presidential elections by a landslide, on Wednesday had said that China should learn to coexist and accept Taiwan as a democracy. Taiwan laws promise to aid Hong Kong citizens whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons.
Widespread sympathy and support for protests in Hong Kong have already worsened tensions between Taiwan and China. Beijing has accused supporters of Taiwan independence of colluding with the protesters.
Johnny Chiang, chairman of Taiwan’s major resistance event, the Kuomintang said, “Don’t let ‘supporting Hong Kong’ only be a slogan of empty promises … Bring up your thoughts on the legislation. Support Hong Kong with real actions.” He added that while Ing-wen’s government had promised aid to Hong Kong, they have failed to provide meaningful help ever since Ing-wen’s re-election.
Hong Kong's Security Chief John Lee in the meantime described the protests in the city-state as "terrorism".