• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

KMT denounces violence in Hong Kong

ROC Central News Agency

2019/07/29 21:19:51

Taipei, July 29 (CNA) Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT), seen by many as a more China-friendly political party compared to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), denounced the recent violence in Hong Kong on Monday.

It also rejected Beijing's "one country, two systems" framework as a solution to cross-Taiwan Strait issues.

"The fulfillment of majority will is the value of democracy, but the use of violence on each side is inappropriate," the KMT said in a statement. "A goal cannot be reached through violence. Hong Kong's government and its people should practice self-restraint."

The KMT urged Beijing to understand the sense of anxiousness and helplessness of Hong Kongers, help the Hong Kong administration to handle the grievances of its people, and resolve the hostility through rational communication.

The militant elements within the Communist Party of China should not misjudge the situation, the KMT added, reminding Beijing that adverse sentiments among Hong Kong people to its administration could be deepened if they pour oil on the fire.

The KMT statement was aimed at a comment made by Yang Guang (楊光), spokesperson of China State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, in Beijing earlier in the day, in which Yang praised the Hong Kong police for "strictly enforcing the law" and expressed support to "patriots' action that defended the rule of law."

The anti-extradition bill rally in Hong Kong eight weeks ago has widened into weekly mass movements calling for democracy and the resignation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Hong Kong police have been firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowds during dispersals, acts described by some international media as excessive use of force.

Yang also described rallyists actions as "touching on the bottom line of the `one country, two systems' framework" while praising the "successful implementation" of the framework in Hong Kong.

In response, the KMT reiterated that it firmly rejects the application of the "one country, two systems" framework in handling cross-strait issues, and only through the 1992 consensus principle, the spirit of "one China, different interpretations" and opposition to Taiwan independence can cross-strait peace and stability be maintained.

The "1992 consensus" is a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then-KMT government of Taiwan and the Chinese Communist government.

The consensus has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledging that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what that means.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) blasted the KMT on Sunday, saying it has not voiced support for Hong Kong when the Chinese special administrative region has been fighting for freedom and democracy.

(By Emerson Lim)
Enditem/J