Does China intend to rule Taiwan under ‘one country, two systems’? An extra line in latest changes to China’s constitution on Hong Kong may suggest so
- Additions may be reinforcement of Xi’s confidence in the one country, two systems model as the solution for Taiwan, says associate professor
- Hong Kong and Taiwan should be viewed separately, says political scientist at Australia National University’s Taiwan Studies Program
Latest amendments to the Chinese Communist Party’s constitution concerning Hong Kong have reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” policy and its vision the principle would be the governing solution for Taiwan, according to analysts.
“[The Communist Party] shall promote long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macau, resolutely oppose and deter separatists seeking ‘Taiwan independence’, and achieve the reunification of the motherland by fully, faithfully, and resolutely implementing the policy of one country, two systems,” the amended constitution read.
That was an elaboration from the previous edition, which merely stated the ruling party should promote long-term prosperity and stability in the two special administrative regions and “achieve the reunification of the motherland in conformity with the principle of one country, two systems”.
A secretariat head of the congress told state media Xinhua the latest amendments would foster the “steadfast and successful” implementation of one country, two systems and the country’s reunification.
Tian Feilong, an associate professor at Beihang University’s law school in Beijing, said the additions could be seen as a reinforcement of Xi’s confidence in the one country, two systems model – despite the challenges faced by Hong Kong in recent years – as the solution for handling Taiwan.
