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?"
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