Taiwan: Tsai Ing-wen offers support for Hong Kong pro-democracy activists

Taiwan's leader reiterated her support for pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong during a speech at the virtual Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

In the pre-recorded message broadcast on Friday, Tsai Ing-wen said that allowing "anti-democratic forces and autocrats to advance abroad" would be "neglecting own democratic values", adding that Beijing should "respect Hong Kong's fundamental freedoms".

Taiwan announced on Thursday that it will set up an office to support Hong Kongers seeking to leave the territory now that China is moving forward with new national security legislation.

Tsai also referred to the World Health Organisation's decision not to include Taiwan in the World Health Assembly in May as "disappointing" considering Taiwan's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource centre, which collates data provided by governments on confirmed infections and deaths, Taiwan recorded only seven COVID-19-related deaths.