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China is facing allegations of attempting to politically isolate Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen by pressuring celebrities, businesses and professional associates linked to him.
The alleged strategy seeks to discourage public figures from supporting Shen amid growing political sensitivities surrounding Taiwans relationship with Beijing, as reported by The Taipei Times. According to The Taipei Times, the allegations emerged after Taiwanese television host Kevin Tsai issued a public apology denying support for Taiwanese independence. Tsai had attended the October 4 inauguration of Shens campaign headquarters, prompting criticism from Chinese authorities and social media users. In a post published on Chinese social media, Tsai stated that he had never supported Taiwanese independence. A source familiar with national security cases stated that Beijing was targeting entertainers and companies associated with Shen because directly pressuring the candidate through Chinas commercial market was difficult. By threatening their business interests, Chinese authorities allegedly hope to discourage others from joining Shens campaign and restrict his access to resources and public support. Tsais manager said the television host attended Shens event to become acquainted with the politician ahead of a possible interview. However, his business partners in China reportedly continued distancing themselves from him. Such pressure could discourage routine professional engagements with political candidates, depriving them of opportunities to communicate their positions and attract supporters. The report also cited Chinas 2021 investigation and penalties against Taiwans Far Eastern Group. At the time, Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office stated that businesses funding individuals it described as advocates of Taiwanese independence could face punishment, including affiliated companies and financial backers, as highlighted by The Taipei Times. Shen questioned the timing of Tsais apology, suggesting it might have been influenced by external forces. The statement appeared a day before Shens electoral rival, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an of the Kuomintang (KMT), was scheduled to inaugurate his campaign headquarters, as reported by The Taipei Times. (ANI)
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