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Unite in the face of Beijing's oppression

The Chinese oppression of "green" [pro-Taiwan] business-people investing in China demonstrates two things.

First, not only has Beijing deprived China's 1.3 billion people of their freedom of speech and electoral rights, but it has also oppressed pro-independence Taiwanese businesspeople and deprived them of their right to political expression. When entering China for business, not only do you have to invest money, but you also have to submit your brain to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which decides how you vote. This amounts to making slaves of the Taiwanese people through business means.

Second, Beijing claims to be willing to open direct links across the Strait, and calls the Taiwanese businesspeople "overseas compatriots." But the CCP's treatment of Taiwanese investors exposes the true face of China's dictatorship. Beijing has no affection for Taiwan or its businesspeople; it only cares about the US$50 billion they have invested in China -- which enables the CCP to boost the economy and extend the party's life. The greater the Taiwanese investment, and the more Taiwanese businesspeople there are in China, the more bargaining chips the CCP has. The party will first blackmail and subjugate the Taiwanese businesspeople, and then do the same to Taiwan itself, forcing the nation to accept its proposal of "one country, two systems."

Both political camps should continue to protest Beijing's vicious actions, regardless of their political affiliation. Although Beijing is attacking the pan-green camp at the moment, the pan-blues might be the next. If you come from Taiwan and are not as red as the Communist flag, you may become a target of attack sooner or later. Beijing will only restrain itself when the voices of protest become louder. After all, it values Taiwan's investments, which the CCP is using to save its political life.

Taiwanese businesspeople operating in China should not think themselves lucky. The CCP's trick has always been "to unite the majority against the 5-percent enemy." However, by repeatedly attacking certain minorities, such as Taiwanese businesspeople, everybody will suffer eventually.

Cao Changqing is a writer and journalist based in New York.

TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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