The short but historic visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, infuriated leaders in Beijing so much that they began to blatantly pressure Taiwan and seek to punish its citizens.
The Chinese government has already introduced measures to stop certain imports from Taiwan. This, in turn, prompted howls of pain from affected industries.
In addition, on August 3, public security authorities in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province arrested a Taiwanese they accused of being a “Taiwan independence advocate.” It was a clear act of retaliation. Now, shaken businessmen who regularly commute back and forth between China and Taiwan are asking themselves, “Could I be next?”
Imports and exports suddenly blocked
Chinese customs suddenly ordered a halt to the importation of citrus fruits from Taiwan on August 3, the very day after President Pelosi’s plane landed at Songshan Airport in Taipei. The rationale given was that insect pests were found and the amount of insecticide detected on the fruit exceeded the acceptable limit.
A discouraged citrus grower from Yulin County in the south-central part of western Taiwan grumbled, “It was a thunderclap. They never said there was a problem before now. Of course, this is a case of political backlash.
The Chinese government has also ordered a halt to natural sand exports to Taiwan. Natural sand is commonly used as a building material by the construction industry in northern Taiwan, where the capital city of Taipei is located.
The sudden ban on sand exports from China will delay the completion of many construction projects, angsty builders say.
China targets young businessman
Several years ago, the 32-year-old Taiwanese man arrested by public security in Zhejiang province was active in a short-lived minor political party in Taiwan, known as Taiwan Minzudang or “National Party of Taiwan”. . [Not to be confused with the main opposition party in Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party.]
He later quit politics and went into business, moving back and forth between Taiwan and China.
He was arrested for his previous activities in Taiwan. The Taiwan Minzudang had asked Taiwan to apply for admission to the United Nations. Apparently, the Chinese concluded that the party platform made him a member of the Taiwan independence movement.
If this man is found guilty of a crime under the draconian anti-secession law, he could receive a heavy prison sentence of ten years or more.
A nightmare world
Currently, it is estimated that over one million Taiwanese businessmen and their family members live in China.
A Taiwanese man who operates an electronics factory in southern China pointed out, “I have never heard of a case before in which participation in political activities considered legal in Taiwan has become a problem for someone. one in China. It has become a nightmarish world for us.
He hastened to add: “The risks of doing business in China have become outrageous. I’ll probably have to consider going out soon.
RELATED:
(Read the report in Japanese at this link.)
Author: Akio Yaita