Government officials aren't aware of any Taiwanese businessmen who have signed up with the Communist Party of China, Chen Ruey-rong (
According to Chen, the Communist Party of China remains an illegal organization in Taiwan. Any Taiwanese businessman joining the organization in China would be violating the law.
"Those who violate the Statute Governing Relations Between the People on the Two Sides of the Taiwan Strait by joining the party will have to pay a fine of between NT$100,000 and NT$500,000," Chen said.
Chen said Chinese authorities should focus more on protecting the interests of Taiwanese businessmen instead of trying to indoctrinate them.
The vice minister's comments followed reports that Chinese workers at Foxconn, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), have set up a communist cell within the Taiwanese company.
Chen said yesterday that membership of the cell was limited to just Chinese, and he wasn't aware of any Taiwanese joining the group.
Chen made the remarks in the legislature yesterday, responding to questions from DPP legislator Chiu Chui-chen (
On Wednesday, Chiu raised concerns about the new communist cell at Shenzhen-based Foxconn.
The DPP lawmaker also claimed yesterday that some other Taiwanese firms such as Formosa Plastics (台塑) and President Enterprises Corp (統一企業) have communist cells at their operations in China.
Chiu said infiltration by the communist cells poses a threat to national security.
Formosa Plastics and President Enterprises have denied that communist cells have been set up at their China operations.
A spokesperson for President Enterprises said the company had no specific rule requiring its Chinese employees to be a member of any political party.
In related news, Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday that China's interference in Taiwanese business operations was not acceptable.
Tsai said the government respects freedom of speech and assembly, which are protected by the Constitution.
But she also said that Taiwanese businessmen should take national security into account. Tsai said the government would consider punishing any Taiwanese businessmen who join the Communist Party of China.
In addition, companies that set up communist party cells at their China operations would have their cross-strait investment applications closely scrutinized.
A Hon Hai spokesperson said its workers should be allowed to organize as they wish.
"The communist cell is needed to better serve party members working at the company," the spokesperson said.
Hon Hai is Taiwan's largest maker of personal computer connectors and cases. Foxconn, one of its branch companies, was established in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, in 1988 with a workforce of 38,000 people.
The Foxconn cell consists of 144 communist party members who are also the company's employees. All of the 144 members are Chinese citizens.
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