Financial Times: HK Denial of Visa to Taipei Mayor May Backfire

[Dioneae muscipula]

On January 5, 2005, Kathrin Hille reported for Financial Times in
Taipei that Hong Kong's decision to deny a visa to Taipei Mayor Ma
Ying-jeou could backfire against China as it further strengthens
Taiwan's alienation from the mainland.

Ma planned to visit Hong Kong next week after being invited to speak at
an event organized by the University of Hong Kong, but Ma said he was
notified his visa application was rejected.

No reason was given, but it has been widely speculated that Ma's recent
criticism of China's plan to enact an "anti-secession law" was the
reason.

Ma, who was actually born in Hong Kong, said the decision had dealt a
blow to China's pledge of "one country, two systems".

Read more details in
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a413fedc-5eec-11d9-8cca-00000e2511c8.html

[john_ccy]

I think China should realize that the more they take steps like this to
antagonize Taiwan, the more they fuel the independence movement there
and give them something to rally around. I think people in Taiwan
rightly feel harrassed by China internationally, which only creates
antagonism and further comflict between the two sides.