When business is hostage to politics

[dArKeR]

China has come up with a new tactic in its battle to achieve unification with Taiwan. Besides voicing threats and military posturing, China has recently targeted pro-independence and pro-Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) business people operating in China. When China singled out the Chi Mei Corporation (????), the world's largest manufacturer of the plastic raw material ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), alarms started ringing for many other enterprises and individuals who support the DPP, for they fear similarly being swept up in the political storm.

The stock exchange has taken a sharp dive in recent days. Rising oil prices and a possible increase in US interest rates have doubtless contributed to this, but many people believe this slump's main cause is analysts' speculations incessantly disseminated over the Internet that China will impose further economic sanctions. There is also the news of China's military exercises around Dongshan Island (???) and Taiwan's live-fire maneuvers in Penghu (??). These routine exercises have been played up by the media into a military standoff that could explode into war at any moment.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/06/05/2003173845