Opinion | Beijing cannot scold its way to a solution to the 'Hong Kong problem'

"One country, two systems" isn't a myth. The constitutional principle formulated by the late Deng Xiaoping has been around since 1984. But back in the day, many spoke of it as a solution to Beijing's "Taiwan problem". Today, it's beginning to look a lot like Beijing's "Hong Kong problem".

"One country, two systems" has evolved since its inception in Hong Kong 17 years ago. Over that time, talk of "testing it in Hong Kong, then Macau, before Taiwan" has slowly lost its relevance. Just a week ago, in fact, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said "one country, two systems" was irrelevant for Taiwan.

But it's important to remember why, back in the day, Taiwan was pulled into the sales pitch: it served a purpose. Cross-strait tensions ran very high; there was talk of military action from both sides that made the world hyperventilate. So the handovers of Hong Kong and Macau were smartly woven into the cross-strait narrative.

Speaking in those terms struck a chord with the international audience then. The thinking was that China would not mess up Hong Kong because "one country, two systems" had to work. Its success became the paper bag that calmed nerves.

Since that time, Beijing and Taipei have obviously charted their own course, one that's no longer hinged on "one country, two systems". That relationship has seen new complications and new challenges.

There are also more tensions and flashpoints in the mainland-Hong Kong connection, which has made a new narrative of assurance on "one country, two systems" necessary. Unfortunately, the State Council's release of its white paper has sparked angst, rather than acted as an assurance.