How the storm over Hong Kong’s extradition bill battered Beijing’s ‘one country, two systems’

South China Morning Post ^ | 5:00am, 22 Jun, 2019 | Minnie Chan, Kristin Huang, Matt Ho

[Zhang Fei]

As protesters and police clashed outside Hong Kong’s legislature over the city’s extradition bill on Wednesday last week, Taiwan’s pro-independence ruling party was wrapping up its primary poll.

The next day, buoyed by the tensions in Hong Kong, President Tsai Ing-wen, the leader of the self-ruled island, emerged to beat her former premier, William Lai Ching-te, and secure the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) ticket to seek re-election in January.

But it did not stop there – even front-running presidential contenders from the mainland-friendly main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), including former Foxconn chairman Terry Gou and popular Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu, are now telling voters that Hong Kong’s extradition bill proves a “one country, two systems” for Taiwan similar to the governing formula for Hong Kong would not work for the island.

By Saturday, Han had openly criticised the Hong Kong authorities’ handling of the controversial legislation that would allow the handing over of fugitives to Taiwan as well as to mainland China – a clear shift in position.

“If I had the chance to become the president of the Republic of China, [I] guarantee there will never be one country, two systems on Taiwanese soil, unless … unless … unless … over my dead body,” Han said, referring to the island’s official name.

“There were so many people taking to the streets because the Hong Kong government did not heed its citizens … it is so terrible,” the United Daily News reported the Kaohsiung mayor and presidential hopeful as saying at his campaign rally.

Taiwan-based analysts said the debacle in Hong Kong had not only helped Tsai’s re-election prospects but also undermined Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Taiwan policy. Beijing views the self-governed island as a renegade province to be taken back by force if necessary.

[pepsi_junkie]

Such a shame for China that just as Trump is putting the screws to them with tarrifs they manage to inspire massive public protests in one of their most important economic centers. Really, I almost shed a tear.

Bwah hah hah hah!

[SeekAndFind]

The HK legislature screwed this up badly.

If they wanted to extradite the murderer who did his dastardly deed in Taiwan, all they needed was pass an extradition agreement with Taiwan and extradite the perp.

THAT SIMPLE.

They had to involve the Chicoms. Totally clueless as to the citizens feel about Beijing !!