While visiting the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said her government would consider granting asylum to the Hong Kong protesters based on humanitarian grounds on Friday, according to Deutsche Welle.
"These friends from Hong Kong will be treated in an appropriate way on humanitarian grounds," Taiwan's Central News Agency quoted her as saying during the visit to one of Taiwan's last remaining allies.
She made the comments in response to some of the protesters discussing seeking asylum in Taiwan.
Tsai said the protesters were Taiwan's "friends from Hong Kong."
Dozens of protesters who fear prosecution for their role in storming the Hong Kong legislature on July 1 arrived in Taiwan to seek shelter from Beijing, according to Taiwan's Apple Daily.
The report cited anonymous sources who said the activists were receiving help from local non-profit organizations and were staying in various locations to hide their status.
Hong Kong has faced several massive protests against a proposed law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China from Hong Kong, including Hong Kong citizens, tourists, and even journalists.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council declined to comment on any requests from Hong Kong protesters for asylum, but said it would handle such cases "under the principle of respecting human rights protections and humanitarian concerns."
"(We) can provide necessary assistance to Hong Kong residents whose safety and freedom are in urgent danger due to political reasons," it said.
Tsai denounced Chinese President Xi Jinping's plan to make Taiwan apply to the "one country, two systems" principle it also applies to Hong Kong.
But many in Hong Kong say their rights have swiftly been eroded after that rule was implemented.
Tsai said the policy was a threat to the "free and democratic lifestyle" of Taiwan.
She is currently seeking a second term in the presidential election scheduled for January 2020 and Taiwan's relationship with China is likely to be a dominant issue.
She said the next election will be a "fight for freedom and democracy" and promised to defend Taiwan from Beijing's growing aggressions.
Meanwhile, her opponent from the China-friendly Kuomintang party, Han Kuo-yu, has called for improved ties with Beijing.
China has promised to seize Taiwan even though the island has had its own government since 1949 when Chinese Nationalists fled the mainland after losing the civil war to the Communists.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / AP Photo
