Without directly declaring his stance, Taiwan's premier industrialist, Wang Yung-ching (
"His [Lien's] economic and environmental stances will promote peace and mutual growth. These are the most important factors," said Wang, head of the Formosa Plastics Group, Taiwan's biggest private-sector employer.
Wang tried to play down his comments while speaking to a room packed full of local and foreign journalists at Formosa Plastics headquarters yesterday.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Wang dubbed the press conference a "discussion with reporters" and added that his comments were just those of a "concerned member of society."
A 13-page press release, entitled "Standing at the cross-roads, making a crucial choice," contained 10 pages of extracts taken from Lien's own book, Lien Chan's Stance.
"Lien's stances, as laid out in his book, are the same as mine," Wang said.
The excerpts included portions on the environment and the economy, as well as a large section on cross-strait relations.
"Peace and coexistence [with China] is what we need, so everyone can profit from it," Wang said.
Prolonged stagnation in cross-strait ties "will only have a negative impact on Taiwan," he added.
"Complex factors are involved in improving bilateral ties and the interests of the people and dignity of the country come as a priority," Wang said.
Wang has already pumped US$3 billion into a thermal power plant in China and is also studying the possibility of investing in herbal medicine and the biotechnology industry there.
Taiwan is the leading foreign investor in China, with official figures quoting some 40,000 enterprises pouring an estimated US$40 billion into various projects. Actual figures are suspected to be much larger.
Wang also said Taipei should lift a five decades' old ban on direct communication, trade and transportation links with China, and revise a policy restricting local businessmen from making major investments on the mainland.
In 1996 President Lee Teng-hui (
When asked what he thought of the comparable policies of DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian (
Wang, who prides himself on the distance he keeps from politics, said he was prompted to make his comments only after the stock market plunged over 600 points on Monday.
According to Wang's press release, the Formosa Plastics' chief said that where he directed his support wouldn't shake the stock market -- an apparent dig at one of his competitors, Chi Mei President Shi Wen-lung (
Wang was quoted as saying: "Whoever I support is a common thing, but why is it that when some people meet with candidates it causes the market to tumble?"
FIREPOWER: On top of the torpedoes, the military would procure Kestrel II anti-tank weapons systems to replace aging license-produced M72 LAW launchers Taiwan is to receive US-made Mark 48 torpedoes and training simulators over the next three years, following delays that hampered the navy’s operational readiness, the Ministry of National Defense’s latest budget proposal showed. The navy next year would acquire four training simulator systems for the torpedoes and take receipt of 14 torpedoes in 2027 and 10 torpedoes in 2028, the ministry said in its budget for the next fiscal year. The torpedoes would almost certainly be utilized in the navy’s two upgraded Chien Lung-class submarines and the indigenously developed Hai Kun, should the attack sub successfully reach operational status. US President Donald Trump
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is expected to start construction of its 1.4-nanometer chip manufacturing facilities at the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP, 中部科學園區) as early as October, the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported yesterday, citing the park administration. TSMC acquired land for the second phase of the park’s expansion in Taichung in June. Large cement, construction and facility engineering companies in central Taiwan have reportedly been receiving bids for TSMC-related projects, the report said. Supply-chain firms estimated that the business opportunities for engineering, equipment and materials supply, and back-end packaging and testing could reach as high as
ALL QUIET: The Philippine foreign secretary told senators she would not respond to questions about whether Lin Chia-lung was in the country The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that a business delegation is visiting the Philippines, but declined to say whether Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is part of the group, as Philippine lawmakers raised questions over Lin’s reported visit. The group is being led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Huang Chao-chin (黃昭欽), Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) chairman Joseph Lyu (呂桔誠) and US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) vice president Lotta Danielsson, the ministry said in a statement. However, sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that Lin is leading the delegation of 70 people. Filinvest New Clark City Innovation Park
TPP RALLY: The clashes occurred near the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on Saturday at a rally to mark the anniversary of a raid on former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je People who clashed with police at a Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) rally in Taipei on Saturday would be referred to prosecutors for investigation, said the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the National Police Agency. Taipei police had collected evidence of obstruction of public officials and coercion by “disorderly” demonstrators, as well as contraventions of the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法), the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. It added that amid the “severe pushing and jostling” by some demonstrators, eight police officers were injured, including one who was sent to hospital after losing consciousness, allegedly due to heat stroke. The Taipei
RSS