RANDOM STRIKES: Chinese threats to boycott the bakery chain 85oC is just another example of Beijing feeling the heat from the trade war with the US, William Lai said
Taipei Times
Date: Aug 17, 2018
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter
Premier William Lai (賴清德) has lashed out at China for threatening to
Premier William Lai speaks at a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Huang Yao-cheng, Taipei Times
boycott Taiwan-based bakery cafe chain 85°C (85度C) after a California outlet allegedly gave President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) a gift bag, comparing its behavior to a “blind swordsman randomly striking around” and said it was likely venting its frustration on Taiwan after the setbacks in its trade war with the US.
“Such behavior will not win society’s support,” Lai said in an interview that aired on Wednesday night on Chinese Television System.
“While in the US, the president passed by a store of a very successful local brand and went inside to buy a few cups of coffee to encourage the employees,” he said.
“China’s reaction to this natural act was grossly excessive,” the premier said. “China is like a blind swordsman randomly striking around.”
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