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On the island of Taiwan, independent of fact but claimed by Beijing, the youth multiplies the initiatives of support to the protesters hongkongais. Reportage.
From our correspondent in Taiwan,
" Hong Kong today, Taiwan tomorrow ": the formula alone summarizes the state of mind of Taiwanese youth. Written in Chinese characters on a fluorescent post-it, the inscription is based on the hundreds of messages that make up the "Lennon Wall" of the prestigious National Taiwan University (NTU). As in many Taiwanese faculties, the space has been set up by students to collect messages of support for the Hong Kong Democrats. The small phrases of solidarity rub shoulders with addresses openly hostile towards the Chinese communist power.
Because since Taiwan, China is a neighbor of landing who is also more and more menacing. The two territories share a common language, Mandarin, but have been evolving independently for 70 years. Taiwan is today a sovereign and democratic state, but continues to be claimed by Beijing. Due to diplomatic pressure, only fifteen countries recognize this island as large as the Netherlands as an independent state.
Since the first demonstrations, it is spontaneously that the Taiwanese youth has identified itself with the fight led by the Hong Kong Democrats. " Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants to apply the principle of one country, two systems, to Taiwan, as in Hong Kong ," says Chin-Chung, student representative of the NTU. If we do not support Hong Kong and we do not defend Taiwan today, we could someday face the same situation . " To improve nothing to the mistrust of the environment, a couple of Chinese tourists ripped off in early October the post-its "Lennon Wall" NTU. The images went around social networks, but did not stop the inscriptions from blooming again.
►To listen too: Hong Kong: the crisis at a turning point?
Protective material sent to Hong Kong
In the lobby of Che-Lam Presbyterian Church in central Taipei, young Ko Chi-An is one of the few Taiwanese to directly help the Hong Kong protesters. Rectangular glasses and T-shirt flanked by a painting by the American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, this student in urban design at the NTU receives and packs daily material for the former British colony. " Hong Kongers are also fighting for Taiwan, he defends firmly. One day, I think Taiwan will face the same problem . "
Che-Lam Church receives and sends first aid kits, protective clothing and gas masks purchased by donors. " The church promotes organization, but it's all about values," says Ko Chi-An, closing the last of the five boxes that day. Some of the Taiwanese still think that we can be part of China or just want to do business with them. But for us young people, it's about our future ! "
►To read too: Hong Kong: these tactics developed by the protesters to counter the police
Support that remains above all symbolic
Since the beginning of the Hong Kong protest, the Taiwanese have beaten the pavement several times, but the reactions of their leaders have been more timid. For want of anything better, the head of the state has been content with reproachful statements against China. Despite this realization of helplessness, Taiwan's civil society continues demonstrations of support. Zi How-Ko, a forty-year-old in tracksuit with graying temples and laughing eyes, is the organizer of a support concert in Hong Kong, to be held this Sunday, November 17. " Today is fine, " he says , pointing at Taipei's blue sky. But when we see our neighbor gaining power and repression in Hong Kong, anxiety is rising . "
Like the majority of support actions in Hong Kong, the event is organized by a group of volunteers determined to defend their convictions. " I speak Chinese, but I feel Taiwanese. And above all because I have an elected president and rights ! "Explains a volunteer with a partially masked face. The young woman says she wants to remain anonymous for professional reasons. For Taiwan, China remains the main economic partner of the island. Despite freedom of expression, support for Hong Kong is therefore not always open.
►To listen too: Hong Kong, rebellious youth
In Taiwan, the burning Hong Kong also revives memories still incandescent. " For us, the crisis in Hong Kong brings us back to the authoritarian past of Taiwan, when everyone was watched, " said the singer of the Taiwan group The Chairman, one of the headliners of the support concert. Until the 1990s, the island was indeed led by an iron fist by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, which had taken refuge in Taiwan in 1949 after the defeat of Chiang Kai-Shek against the Chinese communists. A past that the new generation has not known, but remains at the root of many divisions in Taiwan. " Democracy and freedom are the main topics of my songs. I hope the younger generation can continue to sing them, "he continues. Symbolically, Sunday's concert will take place at Taipei Freedom Square, a historic rallying point for Democratic movements in Taiwan.
►To read too: Taiwan: pro-democracy demonstrations on the island in solidarity with Hong Kong
The reinforced sovereignist president
In January, Taiwanese go to the polls to elect their president and a new parliament. The question of the relationship with Beijing is at the heart of the debate. The KMT, which has become the main opposition party, stands out by a pirouette of history in defending a rapprochement with Beijing. " We respect the will of the people of Hong Kong to achieve democracy and freedom, but these goals must be pursued step by step, " said Alex Lee, a member of the KMT Central Committee.
But according to polls, this ambiguous position does not convince the majority of Taiwanese. In a tavern in downtown Taipei, Will, Taiwanese in his forties, has abandoned his noodle soup ( niurou mian ) to follow the news that still deals with Hong Kong events. A few months ago, this debonair and talkative engineer was still hesitant about the choice of his candidate. " I vote for the party best able to develop the Taiwanese economy ," he says. But the Hong Kong crisis has passed by. " The KMT says that China and Taiwan can be reunited. But given what is happening in Hong Kong, we realize that this is not the case . Will is not the only one to make this statement. The president in power, convinced sovereignist, has seen its popularity curve jump since the beginning of the demonstrations in Hong Kong. It is now given as a favorite for the January 2020 presidential elections.