Taiwan to probe rise of CCP in factories

scmp ^ | December 20, 2001 | JASON BLATT in Taipei

[super175]

The Taiwan Government would examine potential security threats posed by the formation of Chinese Communist Party units in Taiwan-owned factories on the mainland, the country's Economic Affairs Minister Lin Hsin-yi said yesterday.

Mr Lin said at a legislative session that Taiwan should face the problem posed by CCP efforts to open units in Taiwan-owned enterprises, a development he described as "not a good phenomenon".

He added that the establishment of CCP units by a minority of people working at Taiwan-owned factories would probably not affect a company's overall operations.

The economic policy chief was grilled on the issue after media reports about the establishment of a CCP cell in the Shenzhen branch of Foxconn, a major Taiwan-based computer and electronics manufacturer.

The event was seen as significant because President Jiang Zemin recently invited capitalists to join the CCP and also because Foxconn is among the largest Taiwan-owned mainland factories.

At the Legislative Yuan, lawmakers asked Mr Lin what the Government would do if the more than 20,000 Taiwan firms operating in China were "communised" and tried to influence Taiwan elections.

"This is not a good phenomenon. But a small minority of people within a Taiwan-owned company establishing a CCP branch will not affect the company's overall operations," he said. "It would depend on the organisation."

Mr Lin said his ministry would think about the issue in meetings with other cabinet agencies, including the Foreign Ministry and the Mainland Affairs Council.

Television reports in Taiwan said officials at the company's parent office had declined to discuss the matter in detail.

But the firm said only mainland Chinese members of staff at the factory had taken part in CCP activities and employees were free to set up their own private organisations and meet outside working hours.

Television reports said Beijing was actively persuading Taiwan-owned firms to let their employees form CCP units, making some business owners uncomfortable.

Chairman of a Shanghai-based organisation of Taiwanese businessmen, Yeh Huei-teh, told the China Times he respected his employees' rights to take part in political party activities.

[dasboot]

Hey, What if they threw a Comminist Party, and nobody came?

We've seen this political action plan before: rattle sabres at the top to create angst: agitate the masses to accept peaceful co-existence and the promise of a free lunch below. Damn the rich and smart as thieves and tricksters.

I wonder if the Tiawan government has maintained their educational establishment such that it will thwart the allure of this cobra? Are the masses conversant with history and economics? I wonder if they are so "democratic" that they have no bulwork against the bleating of "useful idiots" groomed by the party functionaries? Will the governent and the people, in the name of freedom and tolerance, respect and appreciate the gangrene in the hand which threatens the body?

I'll be watching this evolution carefully. Tragic, but interesting: political pathology 101.

Any updates are appreciated.

[dasboot]

Super,

Went to your Profile and read some of your bookmarks. You're on the case, and I appreciate your efforts! Very informative.

[super175]

re:#3

Thanks!

I have not bookmarked all that I post.

I would suggest searching for articles posted by me and Hopalong. There is some good stuff out there...

[GOP_1900AD]

I visited this facility in 1995. One of the entourage who accompanied me, a "translator" who seemed to have no other discernable role, asked me some rather bizzare questions about geopolitics, attitudes about the PRC in US corporations, etc. So, even without this seemingly more recent development, the Commies were already there. At most of these facilities, the CCP insists that certain "management positions" be filled with party operatives. Also, some of the "security guards" are PLA and don't even try to hide it. Of course, the average hung over Western customer is oblivious to many of the subtleties when visiting the PRC, while at the same time being secretly envious of the top down dictatorial power both in the Chinese society as well as the political aparat. No surprise at all.

[super175]

bump

[tallhappy]

This ain't just for Taiwan.

This is every company in China - including the US companies.

It is a new strategy by the Communists and it is increasing.

It is a new totalitarianism and is very dangerous and effects not just Chinese citizens.

In a US company operating in China, the janitor may actually be the highest ranking Communist Party member and the top Chinese official in the US owned company has to answer to the janitor!.

And the US side would not even know that the janitor is actually the boss.

This is serious stuff they are doing and it extends to Chinese companies in the US or anywhere.

Read this article from the Far Eastern Economic Review

[GOP_1900AD]

It seems that we've all got some key observations and stories to tell here. Whenever the PTB are ready to listen, I am ready to tell ;)