Taiwan and Hong Kong draw closer, united by fear of Beijing

After years of limited contact, young people from both places connect

Hong Kong Taiwan phone

A supporter of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen flashes support for Hong Kong protestors. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)

KENJI KAWASE, Nikkei Asian Review chief business news correspondent

TAIPEI -- Had it not been for the protests in Hong Kong, Wei Ting-Yan might not have flown home from Germany to vote in Taiwan's presidential election on Saturday.

"Without the Hong Kong factor, I don't think so many overseas students or workers would have come back," the 32-year-old student said. "We saw international news every day on Hong Kong and that's why we booked our tickets," he said. He believed that "basically all" his Taiwanese friends studying in Europe made the trip.

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