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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Ma’s Chinese investment deals should end: groups
Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang, left, points to a model of Taiwan at an event highlighting nine government policies that the union and labor groups say have torn the nation apart during the presidency of President Ma Ying-jeou. Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
‘SMOKE AND MIRRORS’: Letting Chinese investors to buy stocks on the local bourse is the first step toward larger concessions, a union member said
By Abraham Gerber / Staff reporter
Initiatives by President Ma Ying-jeou’s （馬英九） administration to allow further Chinese investment before the end of Ma’s term in office should be halted, members of the Economic Democracy Union and other civil groups said yesterday.
“Because the Ma administration is almost certain that the ruling party will change, he has quickly pushed through nine controversial policies toward China and foreign white-collar workers, which would have a serious negative effect on the nation’s political, economic and cultural independence if implemented,” union convener Lai Chung-chiang （賴中強） said during a protest outside the Executive Yuan building in Taipei.
He said the administration was moving to open up the “heights” of Taiwanese industry to China, by approving new investments in finance, media and technology.
The protesters said that “irreversible” changes were being contemplated by the administration, including allowing individual Chinese investors to purchase stocks on Taiwan’s bourse.
Lai criticized a statement by the Financial Supervisory Commission saying that it plans to allow only individual investors to purchase shares in Taiwanese funds rather than directly purchasing stocks themselves.
“This is smoke and mirrors,” Lai said, adding: “If the head goes through, the body will follow — they are trying to make Taiwanese accept individual Chinese investors purchasing shares in funds to pave the way to opening up direct stock purchases before May 20.”
Ma’s term in office is to end on May 20, when he is to transfer his post to a new president.
While corporate investors are already allowed to purchase Taiwanese stocks, allowing individuals to make purchases would greatly increase China’s ability to “wield immense power,” Lai said.
The protesters criticized government plans to approve several investment deals into banks and media firms with Chinese ties, including allowing the Chinese conglomerate CITIC Group （中國中信集團） to purchase a stake in CTBC Financial Holding Co （中信金控） and plans for Beijing-based DMG Media to purchase Eastern Broadcasting Co Ltd （東森）. Both deals are yet to receive formal approval.
Lai said the deals would affect media independence, with CITIC potentially using its stake in CTBC to pull advertisements from news outlets unwilling to tow Beijing’s line.
The protesters also criticized the moves to sign a trade in goods agreement, the application to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, raising caps on Chinese tourist numbers and lower work visa requirements for white-collar foreign workers.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
