Call to stand firm with Hong Kong over ‘bully’ China
THE international community needs to stand firm against China and defend the rights of Hong Kong, Taiwan’s ambassador has warned.
David Lin was speaking as a poll for the Sunday Express revealed 61 per cent agree that Beijing’s apparent cover-up of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan indicates it presents a danger to the UK and to the world.
Meanwhile, 64 per cent approve of the UK Government’s decision to grant holders of a British overseas passport in Hong Kong the right to live and work in the UK.
And 40 per cent in the poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies say this decision should apply to the wider Hong Kong community beyond the 300,000 BNO passport owners.
Mr Lin spoke to the Sunday Express just a week after China renewed military threats against his country – whose formal international recognition it has vetoed.
Taiwan was created from the opponents of Communist rule and since the People’s Republic of China started in 1949 it has remained independent.
Mr Lin said the decision by Beijing to end the “one country, two systems” agreement with Hong Kong was “deeply concerning”.
The ambassador to the UK said: “They are a bully and that has no attraction to people in Taiwan.
“We are very concerned about the situation in Hong Kong.
“It is very important at this juncture that the international community shows its concern. Britain in concert with other countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well as the United States together can show concern.
“Then we can progress. The one country, two systems formula is under serious threat. Some people say it may already have come to an end and there will be just one system – the Communist system. It’s not good for the Hong Kong people.
“Hopefully the international concern can put some pressure on China to exercise more restraint.”
He added: “I’m not that optimistic, to be honest.”
Last week we revealed that discussions are taking place in the UK Government over whether Taiwan should be formally recognised in the wake of deteriorating relations with China, accentuated by the virus.