Zhou Bajun

Notes that Panama realigned itself with Beijing at the same time as five HK lawmakers and activists attended the ‘true democracy’ event in Taipei

Three opposition members of the Legislative Council Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Nathan Law Kwunchung and Raymond Chan Chichuen flew to Taipei on June 12 with two radical student leaders Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Alex Chow Yong-Kang to join 18 “pro-independence” members of the “legislative yuan” in Taiwan in launching a “legislative caucus” for “helping democratic development in Hong Kong”. The Taiwan lawmakers are mainly from pro-independence parties, including five from the New Power Party and seven from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In an open letter of invitation the new group declared its goal was to greet the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China with support for the pursuit of “true democracy” in Hong Kong by those who “resist China and oppose the Communist Party”. Not surprisingly the DPP-appointed head of the “legislative yuan” immediately endorsed the group and promised unreserved assistance.

Incidentally, the President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela announced on national television the next day (June 13) that his country would establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and sever official ties with Taiwan; while the vice-president and foreign minister of Panama, who was visiting China, met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing and signed the joint communique on the milestone in development of bilateral ties between the two countries. As part of the decision Panama officially severed its diplomatic relations with Taiwan that day and promised to cease all official dealings with Taipei from then on. It was no doubt a heavy blow to the DPP government in Taiwan led by Tsai Ing-wen.

The two events mentioned above show separatist forces in Hong Kong and Taiwan are stepping up joint attempts to make trouble; and the central government spares no effort to defeat any separatist act whenever and wherever it takes place. The author is a senior research fellow of China Everbright Holdings.

This development is a severe warning to all advocates and supporters of “Hong Kong independence” everywhere. In the past year or two the central authorities took several measures to reduce room for “Hong Kong independence” advocates to pursue their goal in the SAR. The most significant move was taken by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Nov 7 last year in the form of the interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR. When the DPP took control of the government in Taiwan in May last year some separatists in Hong Kong saw it as their cue to seek support from their allies in Taiwan. They believe the DPP will protect them if they join forces with separatists in Taiwan to build up power in numbers. Now, after Panama severed diplomatic relations with Taipei, many Taiwan residents are urging Tsai to rethink her cross-Straits policy. It is likely that “pro-independence” forces in Taiwan and Hong Kong will find it harder and harder to take joint action in the days to come.

Recent public opinion polls found that more people reject “Hong Kong independence” than before in Hong Kong but the five men who went to Taipei to officially embrace their alliance with “pro-independence” forces in Taiwan just showed us there is a lot of separatism to tackle on the road ahead.

If labels are anything to go by, Chu is a champion of “localism”; Law, as chairman of Demosisto, is all about “self-determination”; Chan is a leading member of People Power and the radical faction as a whole; while Wong is the real leader of Demosisto even though his official title is general secretary, and Chow wields whatever power he may still have as former general secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. They seem to have no direct connection to “pro-independence” groups but, by openly forming an alliance with “Taiwan independence” forces, they have shown us their “localism”, “self-determination” and “Hong Kong independence” are all derivatives of separatism.

Now that the five leading figures of radicalism in Hong Kong have made their preference for separatism public, other opposition parties and figures, including members of Demosisto and People Power, must tell Hong Kong society which side they are on. If they choose to stand by those five and their “pro-independence” allies in Taiwan, they will be regarded enemies of the Chinese nation, including the great majority of Hong Kong and Taiwan residents.

In the past year or two the central authorities took several measures to reduce room for “Hong Kong independence” advocates to pursue their goal in the SAR. The most significant move was taken by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Nov 7 last year in the form of the interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.