Ngy 20 thng 10 nm 2014

[Will Hong Kong Unrest Affect Politics in Taiwan?] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

10/19/2014

Will Hong Kong Unrest Affect Politics in Taiwan?

Police use pepper spray as they clash w ith prodemocracy protesters at an area near the government
headquarters building in Hong Kong early October 16,
2014.

Will Unrest in Hong Kong Affect Elections

in Taiwan?
Voters in Taiwan are preparing to choose to vote in local elections that may be partly shaped by protests in Hong
Kong. As the election gets closer, leaders of both of the countrys main political parties are being pressured to
strongly support democracy activists in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong protestors are angry that China will not permit a fully open election for the territorys leader and
legislature. China says a nominating group will choose the candidates for chief executive. That group has many
members who are loyal to China.
China took control of Hong Kong from Britain in 1997. It placed the territory under its one country, two systems
form of government. China promised Hong Kong that it would have control of its economic and political systems for
50 years.
Wu Mei-hung is the deputy minister of Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council. She says the moves by China in Hong
Kong worry many Taiwanese.
She says her office and the people of Taiwan support the people of Hong Kong in their efforts to choose their own
leader. She says her office hopes the Hong Kong government and leaders in mainland China can use wisdom,
acceptance of different opinions, talks and other peaceful methods to reach an agreement.
Late last month, hundreds of activists gathered in Taiwans capital Taipei in support of the pro-democracy activists in
Hong Kong.
Political science experts say the Taiwanese are closely watching the way China is dealing with Hong Kong. Experts
say the Taiwanese worry that China would suppress democracy in their nation if the two countries were unified.
Democracy has grown strong in Taiwan since the end of martial law in 1987.
Lai I-chung is the vice president of the research group Taiwan Think Tank. He says Taiwanese think differently of
Hong Kong now that Communist China has taken control of the territory from Britain.
I think theyre now looking at Hong Kong as a place thats already a Chinese territory. Since Taiwan has been
democratized and Hong Kong is reverting back to China, Hong Kong is no longer presented as a new place for hope
or place for modernity, not a place Taiwan would like to learn from.
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[Will Hong Kong Unrest Affect Politics in Taiwan?] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

Taiw an's President Ma Ying-jeou cheers w ith the

audience during National Day celebrations marking the
103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of

Ma Ying-jeou became president of Taiwan in 2008. He has created

trust with China through trade and investment deals. Since Mr. Mas
election, Taiwanese and Chinese officials met for the first time.
Those talks led to more than 20 trade agreements that have helped
Taiwan, which depends on exports to remain economically healthy.
But Mr. Ma will not talk about political issues. This has angered
China. And he has said he supports the pro-democracy
demonstrators in Hong Kong.
Charles Chen is a spokesman for the ruling Nationalist Party, which
Ma Ying-jeou leads.

China in Taipei, Taiw an, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014.

Mr. Chen says the president believes democracy and rule of law are
important to the Taiwanese people. He says the Nationalist Party
will continue to show support for people in Hong Kong who want democracy and the rule of law.
Last month, Mr. Ma spoke to Al-Jazeera television. He said he was worried about Hong Kong. He called Taiwan the
only Chinese democracy. And he rejected Chinas plan to rule Taiwan.
He says if the people of Hong Kong are permitted to choose their own leaders it would help Chinas international
reputation. He says Taiwan has been very clear that it does not support Chinas one country, two systems
method of governing. He says a good system would be one side, one system.
Raymond Wu is managing director of e-telligence, a research group in Taipei. He says China does not understand
Taiwanese democracy.
It is obviously a gap between the perception in Beijing and the reality here of Taiwan. Just in a very generic way, the
pursuit of freedom and democracy, if thats what the Hong Kong people support, should be something all the
neighboring countries pay close attention to.
Would "One Country, Two Systems" work in Taiwan?
Some Taiwanese wonder if Chinas one country, two systems policy would work if China takes control of Taiwan.
Political experts say support for Hong Kongs democracy movement may have increased in Taiwan after recent
comments by Chinas leader.
President Xi Jinping told a group of visiting Taiwanese that Taiwan
should consider accepting the one country, two systems policy.
Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council says more than 70 percent of
Taiwanese oppose the policy. However, Taiwan is considering if its
president should meet with Mr. Xi in Beijing next month. It would be
the first time the two presidents have ever met.
China's President Xi Jinping (R) w alks w ith retired
leaders Jiang Zemin (C) and Hu Jintao (L) as they
arrive at the National Day Reception to mark the 65th
anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of
China, at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing.

Taiwan has ruled itself since the 1940s, when the Nationalist
government lost the Chinese civil war to the Communists and reestablished itself in Taipei.
Some experts say Taiwan will not influence Hong Kong and
China. Others say China does not want to anger Taiwan so it may
not react strongly to the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
They say Taiwanese political opinion is important to Chinas long-

term goal of peaceful unification.

Local elections in Taiwan may affect relations with China. A victory by the ruling Nationalist Party could help the
party keep the presidency in 2016. It would also show support for four more years of negotiations with China. But if
the opposition Democratic Progressive Party wins the elections next month and in 2016, it may mean less-friendly
relations with China. The Democratic Progressive Party was in power from 2000 to 2008. It angered China during that
time by supporting Taiwans legal independence from the mainland.
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[Will Hong Kong Unrest Affect Politics in Taiwan?] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

Chen I-hsin is a professor of international affairs at Tamkang University in Taiwan. He says the countrys two main
political parties are now making stronger statements about China.
He says both the Nationalist and Democratic Progressive Party will be increasingly critical of China as elections get
closer.
Im Anna Matteo.
Correspondent Ralph Jennings reported this story from Taipei. Christopher Cruise wrote it for Learning English. Caty
Weaver was the editor. Anna Matteo was the producer.
______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

opposition n. a political party that is trying to replace the political party in power
suppress v. to slow or stop the growth, development, or normal functioning of (something)
martial law n. control of an area by military forces rather than by the police
reputation n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something; the way in which people think
of someone or something
influence v. to affect or change (someone or something) in an indirect but usually important way; to have an
influence on (someone or something)
independence n. freedom from outside control or support; the state of being independent
Now its your turn to use these Words in this Story. In the comments section, write a sentence using one of these
words and we will provide feedback on your use of vocabulary and grammar.

Comment Sorting Latest First

Comments

by: _Andrew_
10/20/2014 11:18 AM

_Opposition_ Opposition parties is a key factor which can influence in positive way on democracy.
_Suppress_ We do not suppress our economy because it lead to recession.
_Martial law_ Some politicians think about martial law in Ukraine. In my opinion it is not good choice. I can
provide to civil war.
_Reputation_ The United Nations Organizations lost their reputation. I cannot resolved any global problem
_Influence_ Good leader is a person who has a big influence on employees.
_Independence_ East and middle European countries over than 40 years have been waiting for independence.

by: Iris from: Taiwan

10/20/2014 8:44 AM
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[Will Hong Kong Unrest Affect Politics in Taiwan?] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

opposition- There is only one opposition in Taiwan.

suppress- The experiment this time is to suppress the growing of sprout.
martial law- People in Taiwan had a bad time during the martial law.
reputation- He got a bad reputation since he cursed someone in public.
influence- Friends is a major influence for teenagers.
independence-Independence is one of the ability that adults should have.

by: Yao Yuan-chao from: Taiwan

10/20/2014 6:48 AM

Basically, Taiwan is different from Hong Kong in situation. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region
controlled by Peoples Republic of China. They are enforcing the so called one China and two systems. In
contrast, Taiwan is a state formally called the Republic of China, independent from Peoples Republic of China,
subject to no control of PRC. Over time, Taiwan has been getting on with China by virtue of 92 Consensus
There is one China, but that each side of Taiwan Strait is free to interpret what that means.

by: Anonymous
10/20/2014 5:41 AM

thank you so much for your programs

by: Moustafa from: Egypt

10/20/2014 3:52 AM

Hello,
The disadvantaged have been suppressed by the army.
American cabinet has a bad reputation.
Marshal law was imposed when Michael Brown was killed by the police.
The opposition in USA will bring down Ubama.
America has started to lose its influence on the world.
Arabian countries is due to get the independence for USA invasions.
Best.

by: Duy Coi from: Hanoi

10/20/2014 1:08 AM

The decrease of customer's demands will not influence the company's plan.

by: hailua
10/19/2014 9:46 PM

_Opposition.The Republic party has two presidental candidates,but the opposition has only one
_Suppress:Our firm has been going badly or under the productive suppress.What should we do to make better
progress.
_Martial law:The military has own martial laws,It is different from the state.
_Reputation:He gained his reputation by giving a lot of money to the poor.
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[Will Hong Kong Unrest Affect Politics in Taiwan?] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

_Influence.I don't want to make influences on you because I don't want to interfere your private life.
_Independence.In order to gain the independence ,our country had to pay high prices to protect that.
Have a nice day

by: jose arturo caicedo rivas from: colombia

10/19/2014 8:11 PM

if chinese dont change their way of being they wont be able to develop as a free nation because opposition
suppres their democracy because they have two way of government

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