Despite facing similar challenges regarding the influences of the China
factor, Taiwan and Hong Kong are experiencing different stages of democratic
development. This article aims to compare the opposition movements of Hong
Kong and Taiwan. By drawing on the experiences of Taiwan’s opposition
movement from 1975 to 1986, we can gain insights into the recent challenges
faced by the opposition movement in Hong Kong from 2006 to 2019. The
central focus of this study is the emergence of political divisions within the
opposition movements. In Taiwan, the major political cleavages within the Tang-
Wai movement (“outside the KMT party”) were centered around the concepts of
“parliamentary/mass line,” “reform inside/outside the system,” and “chickens and
rabbits in the same cage.” In contrast, in Hong Kong, the main political divisions
existed between the pan-democratic party and the localist camp, encompassing
issues such as “democratic reunification/Hong Kong independence” and “peaceful,
rational, non-violent, no foul language/brave fight.” The question that arises is
why these political cleavages led to different outcomes. In Taiwan, the formation
of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 1986 marked the beginning of party
competition. Conversely, in Hong Kong, the Anti-ELAB movement relied on a
leaderless approach to unite diverse factions. To address this question, we attempt
to employ the theoretical concept of “stateness” as the basis for comparing Taiwan
and Hong Kong. This further explores the impact of the different types of stateness
(convergent/antagonist) shaped by the approaches of “Taiwanizing ROC” and “One
Country, Two Systems” as the two regions advanced on their respective democratic
paths. Additionally, we observe the differences in the degree of radicalization and
organization presented in the movement patterns.