People cross the road decorated with national flags and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags above to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Tsim Sha Tsui on June 17, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Hong Kong political heavyweights and scholars on Wednesday applauded the release of a white paper on “The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era”, and expressed their firm support for whatever measures are deemed necessary by the central government to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tam Yiu-chung, a HK member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said white paper on “The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era” clarifies the historical logic behind the nation’s efforts in realizing a complete reunification
The paper was published by the central government a few days after the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi made a visit to Taiwan.
Tam Yiu-chung, a Hong Kong member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress — the nation’s top legislature — said the paper clarifies the historical logic behind the nation’s efforts in realizing a complete reunification, which strongly refutes the smearing of other countries over the past years.
Noting the successful practice of the “one country, two systems” principle in Hong Kong, Tam urged the city to further the practice to set a good example for Taiwan people, and called on Taiwan people to realize the inevitable trend of the great rejuvenation of the nation.
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“People in Taiwan should realize that placing their hopes on the US and the West is futile as they are taking advantage of Taiwan to contain China’s development,” Tam said.
Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said that the timing of the release of the white paper is of great strategic significance, as it shows the central government’s firm will for peaceful national reunification remains unchanged
Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said that the timing of the release of the white paper is of great strategic significance, as it shows the central government’s firm will for peaceful national reunification remains unchanged.
However, the paper also demonstrates that the central government does not rule out the possibility of non-peaceful reunification, Lau said.
Lau pointed out that the paper will have a deterrent effect on the US and Taiwan separatist forces, and have a positive effect on accelerating the process of national reunification.
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Lau said the US has no legal or moral basis to intervene in China’s internal affairs and stand in the way of its reunification as the US has long acknowledged that Taiwan is part of China. That is also the standpoint of China when establishing diplomatic relationships with other countries, Lau added.
Lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei, on his social media account, noted the US’ attempt to disrupt China by playing the “Taiwan card”, adding that such attempts to challenge the one-China policy are doomed to fail.
Contact the writers at shumanchen@chinadailyhk.com