Written by By Staff Writer
CNN
(CNN) — There’s news that’s attracting headlines all over the globe: Hong Kong is being threatened with mass internment for the first time.
A purported commentary from Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in Taiwan is expected to ratchet up tensions in the long-running cross-strait relationship.
First reported by Taiwan’s media network NT Times , the article reads in part: “I wish I could send a mass camp for Hong Kong right now.”
Xi’s words will focus public attention on the ongoing dispute between Taipei and Beijing.
Over the past few years Taiwan has issued increased warnings against violence and legal actions after Beijing used peaceful means to shutter a Taiwanese telecom company in an attempt to stifle cross-strait communication.
“We believe that the threat from China in the case of Guangzhou Taiping phone company forced Taiwan to do what was necessary, as every effort failed to stop threats from the mainland and Seoul to use force and remove the phone company,” wrote Taiwan’s delegate to the UN, Roger Huang in a opinion piece for the Taipei Times
“But the threat from Taiwan’s incoming president, Tsai Ing-wen, may prove less effective.”
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Last week, Tsai took office as leader of the Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
After six decades of formal independence, Taiwan has never officially fallen under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party.
The DPP continues to encourage democratic principles, and previously advocated peaceful negotiations with China.
Tsai was elected on the hopes of easing Taiwan’s economic woes, but has since become the focus of intense criticism.
According to Taiwan officials, her failure to secure visits to the island by leaders of countries that maintain close ties with Beijing and human rights violations in her home nation have made many others question her ability to lead the island.
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Taiwan authorities expect the US to become involved
The response to Xi’s alleged threats to Hong Kong has been swift and positive.
The Mainland Affairs Council is the government body that deals with cross-strait relations. On May 17, the council held a press conference in order to give its side of the story and prevent China’s response from being “used to further inflame regional tensions.”
According to spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang, China’s strong response to Taiwan’s inauguration has been “harmonious” and “sincere” and demonstrated respect for a “new era” in relations.
“One country, two systems” has been a major feature of China’s recently announced development plan, and Taiwan and the UK have thus far refrained from criticising the policy.
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At the heart of the purported political threat from Beijing are two close neighbors: Hong Kong and Taiwan. CNN’s Karla Ortiz reports.
The city of Hong Kong is at the center of attention.
Possibly to prepare for Xi’s comments, Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers had moved to condemn China’s actions in the telecommunications dispute, which included a full-page ad by the county-level People’s Armed Police team in the Taipei Times , just before Tsai took office.
China is one of Hong Kong’s largest commercial partners and its leaders frequently travel to the economic and cultural hot spot.
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Having regained direct visa negotiations with China last year, the city’s government has been looking for economic stimulus.
The “One Country, Two Systems” policy places a relatively high value on the city’s autonomous operation of its economy and society, with special protections for the territory’s 3.6 million residents
Few political complications have been reported over the course of the policy.
“Warming relations,” as it’s known, has been described as both a “win-win” situation and a reflection of mainland confidence in the unique economy.
While this last characteristic may appear to be a point of pride for China, it’s seen as something that should be working in favor of an island that has been dependent on other nations for over two decades.
In 2014, just after the death of China’s most celebrated ever personality, Mao Zedong, in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, nearly 15 million visitors passed through Hong Kong’s iconic harbor-front Ocean Terminal.
And as the city is now at a relatively high stage of economic success, many believe that the island can become a “labor-saving-arm” to curb the labor shortage in China’s provinces.