'HK shows One Country, Two Systems untenable'

President Tsai Ing-wen says democracy and authoritarianism cannot co-exist in the same country. Photo: AP

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday said the continuing protests in Hong Kong shows that One Country, Two Systems principle, which Beijing proposes for Taiwan, is untenable.



“China's goal is very clear and that is to compel Taiwan to make concessions on the question of sovereignty under duress,” Tsai said.



“Yet in Hong Kong, where ‘One Country, Two Systems' is in effect, the situation has just got worse and worse. Democracy and authoritarianism ... cannot co-exist in the same country," she said.



Tsai said Beijing has been relentless in its attempts to influence and infiltrate Taiwan's politics and society but the island's new ban on political interference should have no effect on normal exchanges between the sides.



The Anti-Subversion Law that obtained a third and final approval in Taiwan's legislature on Wednesday aims to prevent illegal campaign contributions, the staging of political events, the spread of misinformation and other acts by foreigners that could affect Taiwan's elections or the work of government.



It was denounced by the opposition and by Beijing as overly broad and an attack of exchanges between the sides, but Tsai defended it as having no effect on normal interactions.



The law's passage “won't have any effect on freedom or violate human rights and won't influence normal commercial exchanges. It will simply provide greater guarantees from Taiwan's freedom and democracy," Tsai said.



Given China's similar actions in other countries, Taiwan's failure to prevent interference could give the impression it is untroubled by Beijing's actions, Tsai said.



“Under Chinese pressure and with the constant Chinese infiltration and interference, we really needed this law to make Taiwan a safer place and to prevent social divisions arising from infiltration and interference,” she said.



Tsai is favoured to win a second term during elections for president and the legislature on January 11.



In Beijing, the head of the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, Liu Jieyi, warned of “serious damage” to Taiwanese interests if the island's government did not fall in line with China's demands.



“The bright prospect for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations needs the joint efforts by compatriots on both sides across the Strait and needs Taiwan compatriots to correctly grasp [the situation]," Liu said in a statement issued by his office. (AP)