Despite its investments in China, Far Eastern Group has been blacklisted by Beijing as a “pro-Taiwanese independence enterprise.”
The Chinese government has taken measures against the company, including conducting law enforcement inspections in multiple provinces and cities, issuing hefty fines and seeking recovery of taxes.
Far Eastern Group chairman Douglas Hsu (徐旭東) has styled himself as “a senior industrialist,” but after reading what he wrote in the media, it is hard to feel anything but disappointment and regret.
Hsu has been speaking out against recent happenings in Taiwanese politics and society, lambasting the government for focusing on referendums and elections while neglecting economic policies and industrial planning. This is not based on facts, and is a distortion of the truth.
As Taiwan is a democratic country, referendums and elections are part of the system, not to mention that elections and many questions in the referendums are closely tied to economic development.
Although the global economy has suffered a severe shock since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Taiwan seems to be one of the few nations whose economic growth has remained positive. How is this in any way “neglecting the economy”?
Hsu said that Taiwan is “against China through and through,” but he is barking up the wrong tree. Taiwan has always been the abused and oppressed party in its relationship with China. Taiwanese do not hate China, as long as it stops “flexing its muscles” and forcing Taiwanese to become “Chinese,” and gives up its “unified front” activities.
Taiwanese do not have the will or desire to be at odds with China on every issue. A peaceful and collaborative economic relationship is not impossible.
While Hsu has been saying that Taiwanese should not “let ideology take precedence,” he has also said that “he has always opposed Taiwanese independence,” supported the so-called “1992 consensus” and, “like the US and the international community,” supported the “one China” principle.
How is any part of this not ideology when this is a blatant contradiction and a slap in the face? His anti-independence stance and support of the non-existent “1992 consensus” are his personal opinions, but since when have the US and the international community followed the “one China” principle? He should be happy that the US is at least following its “one China” policy.
So far, the government has not moved against businesses investing in China. Now that Beijing has fined Hsu for misconduct, not only did he not turn to himself or show great leadership in crisis management, he is turning around to bite the hand that feeds him, the country that has nourished him and provided him with every opportunity along the way.
For someone who is kicking his benefactor in the teeth, it seems that Hsu has a bad case of Stockholm syndrome.
Hung Yu-jui is a Japanese teacher and translator.
Translated by Rita Wang
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath