Taiwan students protest amid visit of Chinese delegation

Students at National Taiwan University chanted pro-democracy slogans on Tuesday amid a visit by Chinese table tennis player Ma Long and a delegation of Chinese students.

According to Radio Free Asia, the Chinese delegation is on a nine-day visit to Taiwan following the invitation of former President Ma Ying-jeou. This invitation has not been welcomed by Taiwan residents.

More than 70 students held banners in support of the 2019 Hong Kong protests and the banning of the Tibetan Snow Lion flag, used by supporters of Tibetan independence. Students began protesting when Ma Long visited the School of Social Sciences at National Taiwan University, Radio Free Asia reported.

“Free Hong Kong! Revolution now!” Read a sign, which references the pro-democracy movement that has been suppressed in Hong Kong under China’s harsh national security laws. Another sign said, “We support democracy and human rights, and we want to exchange on an equal footing!” – Direct criticism of Beijing’s refusal to engage in official negotiations with Taiwan and its continued denial of the island’s sovereignty.

Taiwan has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China and is officially governed by the Republic of China, which was established after the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911.

Following the Chinese Civil War, the government of the Republic of China relocated to Taiwan, while the Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China on the mainland. Despite China’s insistence on ultimately “unification”, Taiwan’s 23 million people largely reject Chinese rule and maintain a democratic system that stands in sharp contrast to Beijing’s authoritarian rule.

RFA reported that China has threatened those advocating Taiwan’s independence. On the other hand, Taiwan protects its sovereignty. A recent survey by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research showed that 67.8 percent of Taiwanese respondents said they would fight to defend the island if China invaded it.