Citing a letter from a young Hong Konger appealing for people "not to believe the Communists", Taiwan President Online Cigarettes Store USA Tsai Ing-wen said on Sunday the island's democratic way of life was at risk from the danger China posed to Taiwan.
The months of anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong have taken centre stage in Taiwan ahead of the Jan. 11 presidential and parliamentary elections, with Tsai in particular warning Taiwan would be next if it gives into Chinese pressure and accepts Beijing's rule.
Speaking at a televised presidential debate, Tsai read excerpts from a letter she said she received from a young person Newport Cigarettes Shop in Hong Kong. She did not name the person nor say when the letter was written.
Tsai read from the letter: "'I ask that Taiwan's people not believe the Chinese Communists, don't believe any pro-Communist official, and don't fall into China's money trap.'"
Taiwan's people have been through their own traumas under martial law before adopting democracy and Cheap Newport 100s cigarettes are now seeing "the end of Hong Kong", Tsai quoted the letter as saying.
Tsai said she wanted to read the letter to remind people of the significance of their vote next month.