POLITICAL OPPRESSION: Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang said the identity of Taiwanese firms that make donations and have Chinese operations should be protected
Taipei Times
Date: Aug 29, 2018
By: Chiu Yen-ling and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday decried an alleged Chinese
Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang bangs his gavel in the Legisative Yuan in Taipei last year to mark the passage of an amendment to the National Health Insurance Act that gives insurance coverage to foreign residents’ babies as soon as they are born. Photo: CNA
investigation into political donations made by Taiwanese businesses that operate in China, saying that the democratic value of transparency should not be used for political oppression.
The Chinese government is allegedly looking into whether Taiwanese corporations with operations in China have donated to the pan-green camp — which in Taiwan is public information — and aims to have the firms make “political statements” akin to that made by Taiwan-based cafe and bakery chain 85°C (85度C), a source said yesterday.
The cafe on Aug. 15 declared its support for the so-called “1992 consensus” and the peaceful development of cross-strait ties when Chinese netizens threatened to boycott the chain after one of its branches in Los Angeles allegedly gave President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) a gift package while she was en route to Paraguay and Belize.
Some Taiwanese corporations have already approached pan-green politicians and legislators “seeking help,” the source said. [FULL STORY]