United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) yesterday said he would take legal action in Taiwan against senior Chinese officials over sanctions they had placed on him, saying he was seeking to counter China’s intimidation of lawful activity.
China last month said it would punish and sanction Tsao for alleged criminal and pro-Taiwanese independence activities.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said the Kuma Academy that Tsao has helped fund was seeking to incite separatism that would endanger cross-strait ties.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA-EFE
Tsao, one of Taiwan’s richest men, who has pledged to provide millions to two civilian defense training programs, told a news conference that China was threatening the lawful holding of political views in Taiwan and his personal safety.
The lawsuit would be filed in a Taipei court against TAO Director Song Tao (宋濤) and TAO spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華).
Taiwanese courts have no jurisdiction in China and senior Chinese officials do not visit the nation.
The TAO did not respond to a request for comment.
Cheng Wen-lung (鄭文龍), one of Tsao’s lawyers, said they knew neither Song nor Chen would come to Taiwan and there would be no way of enforcing any judgement, but the case was about sending a message to Beijing given it has been seeking to use legal means to put pressure on Taiwanese it does not like.
“Legally, we have to do this,” Cheng said. “Taiwan is in a difficult spot, but we have to work hard. You cannot not do anything.”
Tsao’s team is also looking at suing in a US court under that country’s Alien Tort Claims Act.
China’s announcement against Tsao came as the country’s military staged a day of war games around Taiwan it said were a warning to “separatist acts.”
UMC said Tsao has nothing to do with the company anymore, as he retired a decade ago.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS