Despite the country’s financial clout, China remains uncertain on how to win over residents of two of mainland’s wayward territories, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
A New York Times report noted the irony of China's situation whereas it continues to expand economically to the point of being the "world's second biggest economy" trailing behind the United States while over 30 million Taiwan and Hong Kong residents remain at arms' reach.
Proof of this is the recent visit of a Chinese official to Hong Kong, where he was greeted with protests by activists who call for the release of political prisoners and the truest form of universal suffrage.
Hong Kong Protests
A recent report by Aljazeera put Zhang Dejiang front and center of news headlines after his three-day visit in Hong Kong to talk about the mainland's "One Belt, One Road" initiative was greeted with demonstrations where protesters chant: "Zhang Dejiang get the hell out of Hong Kong."
According to the outlet, Hong Kong's not-so-warm welcome to Zhang came close to what happened at the Asian financial center in 2014, when thousands of pro-democracy advocates marched on the streets so that their voices could be heard.
Aside from Zhang, the demonstration also targeted Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, who had been known to be a puppet of the mainland.
Protesters called for the end of dictatorship in the city and called onto China to "stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs."
According to BBC News, Zhang had previously said that he aims "to listen to all sectors of society about what recommendations and requirements they have about implementing the principles of 'one country, two systems,'" during his visit.
"President Xi Jinping's warm regards and well wishes for the people of Hong Kong," he said, adding that he came to Hong Kong "with the care of the central government and all Chinese people."
Unfortunately, Aljazeera thinks that there is little chance that the protesters' voices would be heard since the entire area had been barricaded by over 6,000 police officers to keep them away from the Chinese official.
Wayward Provinces
Aside from Hong Kong, mainland China is also scrambling to keep Taiwan in close reigns as the self-ruling island elected the first ever democratic female leader in its history: Tsai Ing-wen.
Previous reports revealed China's intention to keep Tsai's administration in check.
While she repeatedly assured that she would maintain the status quo on both sites of the Straits, her policies will still be based on democratic concepts promoted by her Democratic Progressive Party.