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Beijing harasses Taiwanese trading in China MAC says

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday accused China of harassing and threatening Taiwanese businesspeople after a powerful local entrepreneur with substantial interests in China was allegedly forced into embracing Beijing's "one China" policy.

"The event shows the Chinese communist authorities have used their political influence to interfere in economic affairs," said MAC Deputy Chairman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三).

"This was outrageous," Chiu said.

He said the case "has sparked loathing of Taiwan people" toward the Chinese authorities.

The accusation came after Hsu Wen-long (許文龍), 77, founder of the Chi Mei Group and also an advisor to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), issued an unusual statement taking Beijing's side of "one China."

His statement particularly stunned and annoyed his traditional allies because it was released on the eve of last Saturday's protest which drew hundreds of thousands of people who marched to protest a new "Anti-Secession" Law passed by Beijing

The law authorizes "non-peaceful means" to be used against Taiwan if it moves toward formal independence.

Last May, China had singled out Hsu as an example of a Taiwanese businessman who supported independence and was unwelcome in China because of his support for Chen.

But in his recent statement, Hsu said he "felt relieved" after China enacted the anti-secession law.

"I think both Taiwan and China belong to one China, and people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are all fellow countrymen," he said.

"I feel Taiwan's economy could hardly separate from the mainland," he said. "I oppose Taiwan independence because promoting independence would lead Taiwan to war and bring disaster to the Taiwanese people."

Analysts say Hsu's comments were a simple recognition of the fact that Taiwan's economy is dependent on China.
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