It has been Beijing’s primary objective to win the hearts of Taiwanese in southern Taiwan, with China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Deputy Chairman Zheng Lihong (鄭立中) making frequent visits there, Wang said, adding: “Look how badly the KMT crashed there.”

“The ‘China factor’ is playing out in Taiwan,” he said at the forum hosted by the New School for Democracy.

At the forum, former Hong Kong League of Social Democrats chairman Andrew To (陶君行), who was in Taiwan as an election observer, said Saturday’s event gave Hong Kong great encouragement.

“The ‘China factor’ effect is substantial for both Taiwan and Hong Kong. Facing the erosion of freedom, Hong Kongers can only resort to civil disobedience, but in Taiwan, you have elections. If Taiwan can, why can’t Hong Kong?” he said.

Sou Ka-hou (蘇嘉豪), convener of Macau Conscience, an activist organization in the territory, said that the elections were a victory for Taiwan’s democracy movement, which has entered a stage of consolidation and deepening.