US-backed turmoil in SAR aimed to boost Taiwan separatists; long-term it will fail
In the face of strong disapproval from Beijing, Nancy Pelosi, the second in the line of succession to the US presidency, went ahead with her trip to Taiwan.
The island is internationally recognized as being part of China and the Taiwan question dates back to 1949, when the Kuomintang retreated there after their civil war defeat by the People’s Liberation Army and the Communist Party of China.
While the United States says it is abiding by the one-China policy, it is clearly breaking the long-term agreement that forms the basis of Sino-US relations.
The US has been meddling in Taiwan for decades. In diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks, the American Institute in Taiwan, the US’ representative office on the island, had regular secret meetings with upcoming politician Tsai Ing-wen before she became the island’s leader.
They identified her as a potential ally, or puppet, to serve US interests; someone who could help the US antagonize Beijing.
Tsai’s global profile was boosted by Western media, and in 2015 she featured in Time magazine, helping her to a 2016 poll win.
Beijing has wanted to reunite with Taiwan under “one country, two systems”, through which Taiwan would enjoy a high degree of autonomy, keep its political system and even its armed forces.
This replicates the system they have applied to Hong Kong since it returned to the motherland in 1997 after 150-years of British rule.
This is the main reason the US instigated a color revolution in Hong Kong in 2019. The purpose was to scare off Taiwan, demonize Beijing over its handling of Hong Kong and allow the Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party, which supports “Taiwan independence”, to remain in power from 2020 onward.
The US has a window of opportunity. The second and last mandate for US puppet Tsai ends in 2024, the DPP is losing support, and it might lose to the pro-reunification Kuomintang in the next election.
This would negate for a while the US desire to further divide Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.
Looking back on the Hong Kong riots, it seems obvious that they were part of a US “divide and conquer” strategy, to demonize China in the eyes of the world, but most important, in the eyes of Taiwan.
Before the Hong Kong riots, the DPP had an approval rating of only 35 percent, yet it ended up winning with a 57 percent majority.
People on the streets of Hong Kong thought they were fighting for a “just cause”, manipulated by the usual suspects who instigate chaos and “color revolutions” globally.
Those protesters/rioters and in some cases terrorists were undermining the “one country, two systems” principle they claimed Beijing did not respect.
They failed to grasp that “one country, two systems “could be kept only if Chinese sovereignty was retained over Hong Kong; and this is why the National Security Law for the city is vital.
In reality, Hong Kong’s return to China was not in 1997 but in 2020, when the National Security Law was enacted, allowing the city to finally decolonize and penalize treason and subversion.
Events are unfolding around the world in which “useful states” are being used to fight proxy wars. Hong Kong’s 2019 unrest was a proxy war waged by the West.
Hong Kong-elected politicians, meanwhile, will have to deliver tangible results and fulfill the social contract that the government has with Hong Kong residents by maintaining stability and tackling poverty and housing issues.
Ultimately, legitimacy will come from the results and the satisfaction level of the people.
People in Hong Kong were duped into believing that Western-style democracy was the ultimate model. Wise people should learn from efficient models, not from failing ones.
Hong Kong will keep on learning, adapting, finding its way and perpetuating “one country, two systems” by maintaining a high degree of autonomy.
Taiwan may also come to its senses one day and see what its interests are, and realize that another “one country, two systems” case is applicable.
Just as Hong Kong went through its bumps, Taiwan will also go through some challenges, but ultimately rationality and wisdom should prevail. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan will be reunited and proud to share the same history and destiny.
The author is a Swiss financial and political analyst based in Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.