China sanctions Taiwan businessman Robert Tsao and lawmaker for 'separatist' acts
World
Robert Tsao is one of Taiwan's richest men
TAIWAN (Reuters) - China said on Monday it would punish and sanction Taiwanese businessman Robert Tsao and lawmaker Puma Shen for alleged criminal and pro-Taiwan independence activities.
In a statement, the Taiwan Affairs Office said the "Black Bear Academy" that both men were associated with was seeking to incite separatism that would endanger cross-straits ties.
Tsao is one of Taiwan's richest men who pledged two years ago to provide millions to two civilian defence training programmes, including the Black Bear Academy. Shen, a lawmaker with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), helps run Black Bear Academy training.
The State Council-level Taiwan Affairs Office said it would include Tsao and Shen on a list of "Taiwan independence" diehards and impose sanctions on them and the academy.
The move comes as China on Monday launched fresh military drills around the democratically governed island that China claims as its own. Beijing said the drills were a warning against "separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces" while denouncing Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te of the DPP.
"This is one of China's many acts of intimidation against Taiwan, including economic coercion, military threats...," a DPP spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters.
"These irrational acts will only further hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people and damage cross-strait relations."
Tsao and Shen would be barred from travelling to China, Hong Kong and Macau, the statement added, while all affiliated enterprises and businesses linked to the pair would not be allowed to "seek profit" in China.
The Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command said the drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and nine areas around the island.
"The Black Bear Academy with the support of the DPP authorities and external interference forces, has brazenly cultivated violent Taiwan independence elements and openly engaged in "Taiwan independence" separatist activities under the guise of lectures, training, outdoor drills," the statement read, citing spokesman Chen Binhua.
Shen, speaking to reporters, described this as a provocation from China, rather than the other way round, and said it reflected Beijing's great sensitivity towards any civilian defence initiatives in Taiwan.
"They will definitely use the threat of (economic) sanctions to conduct further grey zone warfare against Taiwan," he said.
The Black Bear Academy, also known as the Kuma Academy, said in a statement the moves are "nothing more than politically motivated attempts to undermine our mission and silence those who support Taiwan's right to self-determination and democratic values."
Tsao is the founder and former chairman of chip maker United Microelectronics Corp and has said he hoped his programmes would help train millions of "civilian warriors" through a mix of survival, military and counter surveillance and technology courses.
Tsao and UMC gave no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment.
