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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 PLA not involved in Hong Kong: ministry
Members of the Democratic Alliance of Hong Kong and Macau Students in Taiwan gather at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei yesterday to show their support for the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
/ Staff writer, with CNA
China has not carried out a mass deployment of People’s Liberation Army （PLA） troops in Guangdong Province or in Hong Kong amid the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Minister of National Defense Yen Ming （嚴明） said yesterday.
“Neither in Guangzhou nor in Hong Kong are there signs of PLA forces being assembled,” Yen said in response to a question from Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） Legislator Lin Yu-fang （林郁方） during a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.
Yen did say that the PLA raised its level of combat readiness on Tuesday night ahead of China’s National Day yesterday.
As pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong entered their sixth day, tensions between the protesters and the Hong Kong government had showed no signs of easing, prompting the world, including Taiwan, to closely watch developments in the territory.
Hong Kong and foreign media have speculated that Beijing might send PLA troops to quell the demonstrations, held to oppose China’s restrictive plans for the territory’s next chief executive election in 2017.
As of midnight on Tuesday, the deadline set by protesters for Beijing to meet their four demands for political reform, there were no signs of any unusual PLA movements in Chinese coastal areas near Hong Kong, Yen said.
Hong Kong authorities also denied speculation the PLA had intervened on Sunday, when Hong Kong police fired tear gas and pepper spray in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the crowds.
Meanwhile, in a show of support for the protests, about 10,000 people gathered at Taipei’s Liberty Plaza last night, organizers said.
Also, a number of universities nationwide have launched petitions on campuses to support Hong Kong’s democratic movement.
In related news, Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） yesterday voiced her support for the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, urging both the Hong Kong and Beijing governments to respond positively to the voice of the people.
“Right now, Hong Kong is at a turning point in history. In the past year, Hong Kongers have taken action after action — including a civil referendum, the July 1 demonstration, and the student strike and Occupy Central — to courageously, firmly and loudly voice their determination and demands,” Tsai said at DPP headquarters during the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee meeting. “Through the media, I see protesters in Hong Kong resisted tear gas and pepper spray from police with umbrellas, goggles and surgical masks.”
Tsai said images showing umbrellas as the only means of resistance used by Hong Kongers facing the government crackdown had shocked the world.
“The firm belief in democracy and determination can spread seeds of democracy in Hong Kong and it will definitely change Hong Kong,” Tsai said.
She added that Taiwanese would stand united with Hong Kongers and urged the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing to respond positively by launching democratic reforms.（Additional reporting by Loa Iok-sin）
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
Hong Kongers studying at Fu Jen Chatholic University in New Taipei City yesterday launch a petition on campus to support the pro-democracy protests in the territory. Photo: Kuo Yen-hui, Taipei Times
