Pro-unification businessmen and politicians are behind rumors that China has ordered the closure of Chi Mei Corp's petrochemical plants in China, not officials in Beijing, a DPP legislator alleged yesterday.
DPP lawmaker Trong Chai (
The pro-unification businessmen and politicians also called for Beijing to shut down Chi Mei's plants in retaliation for remarks by the group's chairman, Shi Wen-lung (
But after Beijing declined to order the closures out of economic considerations, Taiwan's pro-unification camp began to kick up a media storm by circulating rumors and attributing them to Chinese officials, Chai said.
Tsai also compared the pro-unification businessmen and politicians to "modern Wu San-kuis." Wu San-kui (
china tight-lipped
Despite the rumors, officials in Beijing have remained tight-lipped on the issue and a manager at Chi Mei's Zhenjiang plant denied that the facility had been ordered closed. "We haven't received any such information," the manager told local cable network ETTV, adding that operations were continuing as normal.
Shi, who is also a senior adviser to President Chen Shui-bian (
Scholars estimate Japan forced as many as 200,000 women from China, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Netherlands into sexual slavery before and during World War II.
Shi was also severely criticized at home by women's rights groups and lawmakers for his remarks, but has since issued a written apology.
The Chi Mei Corp has come under pressure in China because of Shi's public support for President Chen during last year's presidential election.
Shi's case is not the first time China has threatened Taiwanese businesses that have supported the DPP, said Chen Po-chih (
China is openly using economic means to influence political debates in Taiwan, Chen said, and this could destroy Taiwan's ability to help China democratize.
Chinese-language media yesterday quoted unnamed high-ranking officials in Taiwan as saying that the government may slow its review of cross-strait investment policy -- including the possible establishment of the "big three links" -- if China punishes Taiwanese businesses for political reasons.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) called on China's leaders to demonstrate political wisdom and not ruin China's international image with oppressive actions.
protection sought
Meanwhile, Vice Minister for Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) said over the weekend that Taiwan should seek an agreement with Beijing to protect Taiwanese companies based in China from political forces.
"It's absolutely necessary to discuss the agreement in the fastest possible manner given the fact that the mainland accounted for some 40 percent of Taiwan's outbound investment," Lin said.
The agreement is designed to protect the some 30,000 Taiwanese firms with commercial interests in China from "non-economic factors," Lin said.
Lin said he would raise the issue of a possible "investment guarantee agreement" with his Chinese counterparts at a meeting of regional economic ministers during the APEC forum meeting in Shanghai in June.
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