Tycoons becoming China's pawns

[dArKeR]

The pro-unification statement of Chi Mei Group founder Hsu Wen-lung (???) is a typical case of China threatening and seducing Taiwanese businesspeople with economic benefits in an effort to exercise political influence.

What was its political impact? In the short term at least, it seriously disrupted the momentum of the March 26 rally and the effectiveness of Taiwan's international propaganda. In the long term, whether it can win Taiwanese people's hearts and minds awaits further observation.

Ever since its economic reform and liberalization in the 1980s, China has become the only regime in the world that is not only economically powerful but is also opposed to freedom of expression. But Taiwan is not the first victim of Beijing's tactic of "using business to exercise influence over politics."

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2005/04/07/2003249488