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dpa
Taipei
Taiwan’s government on Monday condemned Hong Kong for imposing strict visa rules on Taiwanese officials, a move it says will worsen diplomatic relations.
The criticism came a day after the withdrawal of seven of the remaining eight Taiwanese officials working in Taiwan’s representative office in Hong Kong. The seven officials have returned to Taipei, as they refused to sign an affidavit recognizing Beijing’s “One China” principle, required by the Hong Kong government for visa renewal.
“Our national sovereignty is never allowed to be compromised,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Tai-san told a news conference.
“Our supporting Hong Kong people pursuing democracy and freedom should have not been an excuse for the Hong Kong government to politically suppress Taiwan,” Chiu said, adding that Taiwan had never interfered in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.
Wu Rwei-ren, a researcher at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Taiwan History, told dpa that the new visa rules appear to be selectively targeting Taiwan in retribution for its support to the activists.
Chiu said that the immediate changes of the operations in Taiwan’s representative office in Hong Kong include switching some applications for passports or certain documents from in-person to online. In addition, a hotline will be established for Hong Kong students seeking opportunities to study in Taiwan.
Taipei
Taiwan’s government on Monday condemned Hong Kong for imposing strict visa rules on Taiwanese officials, a move it says will worsen diplomatic relations.
The criticism came a day after the withdrawal of seven of the remaining eight Taiwanese officials working in Taiwan’s representative office in Hong Kong. The seven officials have returned to Taipei, as they refused to sign an affidavit recognizing Beijing’s “One China” principle, required by the Hong Kong government for visa renewal.
“Our national sovereignty is never allowed to be compromised,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Tai-san told a news conference.
“Our supporting Hong Kong people pursuing democracy and freedom should have not been an excuse for the Hong Kong government to politically suppress Taiwan,” Chiu said, adding that Taiwan had never interfered in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.
Wu Rwei-ren, a researcher at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Taiwan History, told dpa that the new visa rules appear to be selectively targeting Taiwan in retribution for its support to the activists.
Chiu said that the immediate changes of the operations in Taiwan’s representative office in Hong Kong include switching some applications for passports or certain documents from in-person to online. In addition, a hotline will be established for Hong Kong students seeking opportunities to study in Taiwan.
