MAC criticizes China’s sanctions aiming at election interference

• By Chen Fu-yu and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter and staff writer, with CNA

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Sanctions imposed by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) on a firm owned by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen’s (沈伯洋) father are an egregious attempt to pressure Taiwanese society and interfere with Taiwan’s democratic elections, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday.

Hong Kong’s Ta Kung Pao (大公報) and Wen Wei Po (文匯報) on Tuesday reported that VWAY Co — a company owned by Shen’s father, Shen Tu-cheng (沈土城) — was still earning money in China after Sicuens International Co (兆億), also owned by Shen Tu-cheng, was sanctioned in June last year.

VWAY trade totaled about US$700,000 in about 10 months through March, reported the newspapers, which are owned by the Hong Kong Liaison Office.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen, the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate for Taipei mayor, center, speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: Gan Meng-lin, Taipei Times

The latest sanction, imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on VWAY, follows the same pattern as last year, the MAC said.

Targeted reporting is published by Hong Kong media, then the TAO issues an official sanction announcement, the council said.

During elections in Taiwan, the CCP collaborates with media to manipulate public opinion, label specific political camps and candidates, and exert economic pressure, the MAC said, adding that they are clear and egregious attempts to coerce Taiwanese society and interfere with its elections.

The government will do everything it can to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwanese citizens and businesses, and will resolutely defend Taiwan’s free and democratic system, it said.

TAO spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) told a news conference yesterday that China in June last year sanctioned Sicuens International, but Shen Tu-cheng allegedly continued doing business with Chinese companies through VWAY.

China has also sanctioned VWAY Co, banning it from doing any business or cooperating with organizations in China, Chen said.

Puma Shen, the DPP’s candidate for Taipei mayor, earlier yesterday told reporters that the reports are recycled claims from 2024 that he has addressed many times.

His family does business with Ecuador, but it is portrayed as operating in China, he said, adding that people would see through the attempt to revive old rumors.

Puma Shen said he has already been sanctioned and placed on a Chinese wanted list, while Chinese authorities have hired Hong Kong residents to monitor him.

“I will wait and see what else they can dish out,” he added.

Taipei residents are choosing their next mayor and the TAO should understand that such tactics would not earn the trust of Taiwanese, including Taipei residents, Puma Shen’s campaign team said.

The DPP legislative caucus said that the same script — Hong Kong media releasing reports orchestrated by the CCP — played out last year.

Whoever speaks loudest in defense of Taiwan becomes the primary target and this attack is clearly aimed at Puma Shen, the caucus said, adding that no democratic country would allow a foreign state to interfere in its elections.