Global Condemnation of Heavy Sentences for Hong Kong Democrats; Taiwan-Hong Kong Alliance Warns Against CCP’s Deception

Illustrative image: The Hong Kong Central waterfront. (Song Bilong/Dajiyuan)

[People News] United Nations human rights officials and multiple nations have condemned the harsh sentencing of 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists for their participation in primary elections. The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions against Hong Kong officials. The Taiwan-Hong Kong Civil Alliance called on Taiwan’s political and social sectors, under CCP threats, to view Hong Kong as a cautionary tale and not believe the CCP’s "One Country, Two Systems" deception.

According to Radio Free Asia, the heavy sentences handed down by Hong Kong courts to the 45 pro-democracy activists sparked widespread international condemnation. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller issued a statement on Tuesday evening (November 19), strongly condemning the harsh sentencing and announcing plans to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the National Security Law. Miller urged the Hong Kong government to uphold judicial independence, end political prosecutions, and release all political prisoners.

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep concern over the ruling, warning that the extensive use of the National Security Law criminalizes acts protected under human rights, such as freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and protests.

Taiwan's Presidential Office issued a statement asserting that the "47 Activists Case" proves that "One Country, Two Systems" is unworkable.

Taiwan, Hong Kong’s closest neighbor, has been closely monitoring the sentencing. Taiwan’s Presidential Office issued a statement strongly condemning the CCP government for using judicial means and unfair procedures to hand down harsh sentences to pro-democracy activists. The statement criticized the actions as breaking promises of "50 years of no change" and high-degree autonomy, further proving that "One Country, Two Systems" is unworkable.

Taiwan-Hong Kong Press Conference: Exposing the Facade of “One Country, Two Systems”

On Wednesday (November 20), Taiwanese civil organizations and Hong Kong groups in Taiwan held a press conference in solidarity with the "47 activists case." Hong Kongers living in Taiwan expressed outrage and sadness over the sentencing, urging Taiwanese society to see the case as a stark warning not to trust the CCP’s "One Country, Two Systems" narrative.

Exiled Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong warned that the downfall of Hong Kong serves as a demonstration for Taiwan, showing that believing in "One Country, Two Systems" is equivalent to supporting the CCP’s dictatorship.

Wong stated: "‘One Country, Two Systems’ and the promise of ‘50 years of no change’ are all lies. I once believed in ‘One Country, Two Systems,’ thinking that if we didn’t resist, we’d be fine. But the sentencing in the ‘47 Activists Case’ is a sentence against democracy and freedom worldwide, turning everyone who supports these values into criminals. Under the CCP’s lies, it seeks to eradicate all thoughts of democracy and freedom to pave the way for dictatorship. The CCP says it wants to eliminate Taiwan independence and Hong Kong independence, but that’s also a lie. What’s real is ‘CCP independence’—their totalitarian rule is the ultimate reality."

The “47 Activists Case” Is Not the End of Repression

Exiled Hong Kong activist Fu Tang, now in Taiwan, emphasized that the Hong Kong government’s suppression of human rights will not end with the sentencing in the "47 Activists Case." Instead, recent incidents outside the courts demonstrate that repression is intensifying.

Fu said:
"The night before last, a woman posted a message urging everyone to go to West Kowloon Court, and she was immediately arrested by the Hong Kong police. Yesterday, a family member held a sign saying, ‘The righteous shall live, the wicked shall perish,’ and she was also detained by the police. We’ve noticed that the suppression of freedoms by the Special Administrative Region Government (Hong Kong government) has not stopped despite the conclusion of the ‘47 Activists Case.’"

Hong Kong Groups Urge Taiwan to Reject CCP Promises

Fung Chiu-Tin, Secretary-General of Hong Kong Outlanders, urged Taiwan, which faces similar threats from the CCP, to ensure that what happened in Hong Kong does not happen in Taiwan. He warned against believing any promises made by the CCP.

Fung stated: "Trying to negotiate with the CCP is futile. From Tibet’s 17-Point Agreement to Hong Kong’s so-called ‘One Country, Two Systems,’ their approach is always the same. The difference now is that the regime has learned to be more efficient in its oppression. Hong Kong’s experiment with ‘One Country, Two Systems’ was meant to serve as a demonstration for Taiwan, and it’s clear that Taiwan is their next target."

Taiwan Groups Call on Politicians to Heed Hong Kong’s Lessons

Lai Chung-Chiang, convener of the Economic Democracy Union think tank, stressed that the CCP uses the same tactics against Hong Kong and Taiwan, urging Taiwanese politicians to take the "47 Activists Case" as a lesson.

Lai said: "Yesterday’s verdict proves that ‘One Country, Two Systems’ has completely failed. Pay attention to the Legislative Yuan, where some are trying to push for a third ‘One Country, Two Systems’ zone through initiatives like Jin-Xia integration (Kinmen and Xiamen) or Fu-Ma integration (Fujian and Matsu), proposing these areas as models for cross-strait integration. I urge Taiwanese legislators to cherish Taiwan’s democracy and freedom—the freedom to hold primaries and to block budgets without being charged with subverting the state."

Wang Chih-Sheng, Secretary-General of the Chinese Asia-Pacific Elite Exchange Association, emphasized that Taiwan’s government and civil society must continue to support Hong Kong. He added: "Standing in solidarity with Hong Kong demonstrates to Beijing that Taiwan has a steadfast commitment to defending democracy and will not retreat in the face of CCP threats."