CHANGE CHAMPIONS: The forum celebrates rights advocates and their causes, while holding it in Taipei hails Taiwan’s human rights record, the organizers saidBy Lu Yi-hsuan and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Experts have criticized the next election as a process completely controlled by Beijing. They point to the sole candidate's history of hardline leadership and ties with the Chinese government.
Observers warn the upcoming vote will be controlled by Beijing and cement the crackdown on dissent. There's only one candidate and he's seen as tough enforcer of the mainland's ambition to roll back Hong Kong's autonomy.