Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday decried an alleged Chinese investigation into political donations made by Taiwanese businesses that operate in China, saying that the democratic value of transparency should not be used for political oppression.
The Chinese government is allegedly looking into whether Taiwanese corporations with operations in China have donated to the pan-green camp — which in Taiwan is public information — and aims to have the firms make “political statements” akin to that made by Taiwan-based cafe and bakery chain 85°C (85度C), a source said yesterday.
The cafe on Aug. 15 declared its support for the so-called “1992 consensus” and the peaceful development of cross-strait ties when Chinese netizens threatened to boycott the chain after one of its branches in Los Angeles allegedly gave President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) a gift package while she was en route to Paraguay and Belize.
Photo: CNA
Some Taiwanese corporations have already approached pan-green politicians and legislators “seeking help,” the source said.
Asked for comment, Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said: “While we encourage the transparency of political donations to civil servants, the identity of Taiwanese corporations in China that make donations should be protected.”
Beijing intrusions just deepen Taiwanese loathing for China and such actions “are ill-willed acts to undermine cross-strait development,” he added.
Information made public under the Political Donations Act (政治獻金法) should not make donors a target of political suppression, DPP Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) said.
Any such action seeking to counter democratic values and influence economic activity should be condemned, Lai said.
The 85°C incident serves as a lesson on Chinese intrusion into the private affairs of companies and Beijing continuing the practice as a way to oppress Taiwanese corporations in China would only further alienate Taiwanese, he said.
National security-related agencies should have a stronger response to political threats made by an authoritarian China against Taiwan’s democracy, Lai said.
Domestic political parties should not collude with China to oppress Taiwanese democratic values, which were hard-fought and could be lost if allowed to slip away, Lai added.
The declaration of political donations should not lead to donors’ right to privacy being breached, a DPP party official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the information should only be revealed if criminal activity is suspected, or in other “special” circumstances.
Asked whether the alleged breach by China would result in fewer donations to the pan-green camp, DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the move by Beijing would be ineffective and only cause China to lose further support in Taiwan, while DPP Legislator Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) said it would not only fail to cut off funding for the party, but also “help the campaigns of pan-green candidates.”
DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said the alleged Chinese actions were absurd and constituted a direct intrusion into Taiwanese politics and elections, adding that such actions would only have adverse effects.
UKRAINE, NVIDIA: The US leader said the subject of Russia’s war had come up ‘very strongly,’ while Jenson Huang was hoping that the conversation was good Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump had differing takes following their meeting in Busan, South Korea, yesterday. Xi said that the two sides should complete follow-up work as soon as possible to deliver tangible results that would provide “peace of mind” to China, the US and the rest of the world, while Trump hailed the “great success” of the talks. The two discussed trade, including a deal to reduce tariffs slapped on China for its role in the fentanyl trade, as well as cooperation in ending the war in Ukraine, among other issues, but they did not mention
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi yesterday lavished US President Donald Trump with praise and vows of a “golden age” of ties on his visit to Tokyo, before inking a deal with Washington aimed at securing critical minerals. Takaichi — Japan’s first female prime minister — pulled out all the stops for Trump in her opening test on the international stage and even announced that she would nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, the White House said. Trump has become increasingly focused on the Nobel since his return to power in January and claims to have ended several conflicts around the world,
GLOBAL PROJECT: Underseas cables ‘are the nervous system of democratic connectivity,’ which is under stress, Member of the European Parliament Rihards Kols said The government yesterday launched an initiative to promote global cooperation on improved security of undersea cables, following reported disruptions of such cables near Taiwan and around the world. The Management Initiative on International Undersea Cables aims to “bring together stakeholders, align standards, promote best practices and turn shared concerns into beneficial cooperation,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said at a seminar in Taipei. The project would be known as “RISK,” an acronym for risk mitigation, information sharing, systemic reform and knowledge building, he said at the seminar, titled “Taiwan-Europe Subsea Cable Security Cooperation Forum.” Taiwan sits at a vital junction on
LONG-HELD POSITION: Washington has repeatedly and clearly reiterated its support for Taiwan and its long-term policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday said that Taiwan should not be concerned about being used as a bargaining chip in the ongoing US-China trade talks. “I don’t think you’re going to see some trade deal where, if what people are worried about is, we’re going to get some trade deal or we’re going to get favorable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan,” Rubio told reporters aboard his airplane traveling between Israel and Qatar en route to Asia. “No one is contemplating that,” Reuters quoted Rubio as saying. A US Treasury spokesman yesterday told reporters
RSS