Taiwan must insist on democratic values at a time when authoritarianism is expanding, President Tsai Ing-wen (???) said Saturday, the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Incident.
Democracy is under threat and authoritarianism is expanding around the world, Tsai said on her Facebook page, adding that “more than ever we need to insist on democratic values” while working with other countries that share similar values to help each other.
Tsai noted that Hong Kong, where large-scale vigils have been held annually to remember protesters who were brutally cracked down on by the Chinese authorities in June 1989, would not host any commemorative events this year.
At the same time, statues pertaining to democracy and the Tiananmen Square Incident, which is also known as the June 4 Incident, at several universities in Hong Kong have been removed, she said.
However, these attempts to deny the past would not erase history from people’s memory, she added.
Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said in a statement issued Saturday it was regrettable to see that even 33 years after the event, the truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre continues to be hidden.
At the same time, the Chinese government has ramped up efforts to oppress activists and expand surveillance in the country in the name of maintaining social order, the DPP said.
The violations of human rights in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong have caused serious concern in the international community, the party said.
In addition to oppressive rule at home, the DPP said, Beijing has attempted to challenge the international order and corrode people’s confidence in democratic systems.
The party said freedom and democracy are hard earned values and it will make every effort to preserve the free and democratic way of life in Taiwan, which went through decades of authoritarian rule before democracy took root.
While the main opposition Kuomintang had not made any comments over the anniversary as of press time, former President Ma Ying-jeou (???) from the KMT said on Saturday via social media that the Chinese government should face history with honesty and try to heal the trauma brought about by the event.
Such efforts will boost Beijing’s image in the international arena, Ma said, adding that it would also prevent people in Taiwan from becoming even more distanced from China.
At the same time, Ma criticized the DPP government for turning Taiwan into a “democracy without freedom.”
Without going into detail, Ma said over the past six years, Taiwan’s government has shut down a television news channel, oppressed opposition parties, restricted freedom of expression, and used propaganda to mislead the public and sow hatred in Taiwanese society.
The fact that the international community has chosen to “turn a blind eye” to these problems is an issue of grave concern, he said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel