A commuter (top C) takes a photo from the top deck of a stationary tram as a group of elderly people march to the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 17, 2019, in the latest protest against a controversial extradition bill. \u2013 Hong Kong has been rocked by more than a month of huge largely peaceful protests \u2014 as well as a series of separate violent confrontations with police \u2014 sparked by a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China and other countries. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE \/ AFP)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Taiwan\u2019s government said Friday it would assist Hong Kongers seeking sanctuary after local media reported dozens of activists involved in an unprecedented storming of the city\u2019s parliament had fled to the island.<\/p>\n
The pledge risks infuriating Beijing but comes as Taiwan gears up for a presidential election where a dominating issue will be relations with the mainland \u2014 which sees the self-ruled island as its territory and has vowed to seize it.<\/p>\n
Over 30 Hong Kong protesters who fear prosecution for their involvement in the ransacking of the financial hub\u2019s legislature on July 1 have arrived in Taiwan to seek shelter, Taiwan\u2019s Apple Daily said, citing unnamed sources.<\/p>\n
The report said the activists are staying in various locations and that some are receiving assistance from local NGOs.<\/p>\n
The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan\u2019s top policy-making body on China, did not confirm whether any requests for sanctuary had been made. <\/p>\n
But it issued a statement Friday saying it would handle such cases \u201cunder the principle of respecting human rights protections and humanitarian concerns\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201c(We) can provide necessary assistance to Hong Kong residents whose safety and freedom are in urgent danger due to political reasons,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Taiwan\u2019s President Tsai Ing-wen added her support for such a move. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese friends from Hong Kong will be treated properly on humanitarian grounds,\u201d Taiwan\u2019s Central News Agency quoted her as saying during a visit to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, one of Taiwan\u2019s few remaining diplomatic allies.<\/p>\n
Unprecedented protests <\/strong>Hong Kong has been rocked by more than a month of huge and largely peaceful protests \u2014 as well as a series of separate violent confrontations with police \u2014 sparked by a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China and other countries.<\/p>\nTaiwan\u2019s history of providing sanctuary to Chinese dissidents has been mixed. <\/p>\nThe island still does not recognise the legal concept of asylum but has, on occasions, allowed dissidents to stay on long term visas.<\/p>\nTsai\u2019s offer comes as she is seeking a second term at January\u2019s election. <\/p>\nTies with Beijing have soured since she came to power in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of \u201cone China\u201d. <\/p>\nSince her landslide victory, Beijing has cut official communications, ramped up military exercises, poached diplomatic allies and ratcheted up economic pressure on the island. <\/p>\nTsai has described the 2020 presidential election as a \u201cfight for freedom and democracy\u201d, setting herself up as someone who can defend Taiwan from an increasingly assertive Beijing.<\/p>\nHer main opponent Han Kuo-yu \u2014 from the more China-friendly Kuomintang party \u2014 has advocated warmer ties with the mainland.<\/p>\nApple Daily said around 30 more protesters are planning to come to Taiwan later hoping to stay long-term and follow the case set by Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee.<\/p>\nLam, who disappeared into Chinese custody for half a year at the end of 2015, fled to Taiwan in April.<\/p>\nHe was one of five publishers selling gossip-filled tomes on China\u2019s leaders who vanished, resurfacing in Chinese custody and making televised confessions. <\/p>\nTaiwanese authorities initially granted the 64-year-old a one-month business stay and have since extended it twice to late October. <\/p>\nLam told AFP he has heard about the Hong Kong anti-government protesters fleeing to Taiwan from his \u201cconnections in Canada who are willing to help in case they couldn\u2019t stay in Taiwan\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Taiwan\u2019s history of providing sanctuary to Chinese dissidents has been mixed. <\/p>\n
The island still does not recognise the legal concept of asylum but has, on occasions, allowed dissidents to stay on long term visas.<\/p>\n
Tsai\u2019s offer comes as she is seeking a second term at January\u2019s election. <\/p>\n
Ties with Beijing have soured since she came to power in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of \u201cone China\u201d. <\/p>\n
Since her landslide victory, Beijing has cut official communications, ramped up military exercises, poached diplomatic allies and ratcheted up economic pressure on the island. <\/p>\n
Tsai has described the 2020 presidential election as a \u201cfight for freedom and democracy\u201d, setting herself up as someone who can defend Taiwan from an increasingly assertive Beijing.<\/p>\n
Her main opponent Han Kuo-yu \u2014 from the more China-friendly Kuomintang party \u2014 has advocated warmer ties with the mainland.<\/p>\n
Apple Daily said around 30 more protesters are planning to come to Taiwan later hoping to stay long-term and follow the case set by Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee.<\/p>\n
Lam, who disappeared into Chinese custody for half a year at the end of 2015, fled to Taiwan in April.<\/p>\n
He was one of five publishers selling gossip-filled tomes on China\u2019s leaders who vanished, resurfacing in Chinese custody and making televised confessions. <\/p>\n
Taiwanese authorities initially granted the 64-year-old a one-month business stay and have since extended it twice to late October. <\/p>\n
Lam told AFP he has heard about the Hong Kong anti-government protesters fleeing to Taiwan from his \u201cconnections in Canada who are willing to help in case they couldn\u2019t stay in Taiwan\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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