TAIPEI, Taiwan — China has issued warrants for 20 Taiwanese individuals, accusing them of hacking missions on the Chinese mainland on behalf of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The announcement was made on Thursday, with Chinese authorities also banning dealings with a Taiwanese company whose owners they have labeled as hardcore Taiwan independence supporters.
According to police in Guangzhou, a manufacturing hub in southern China, the alleged hackers were led by Ning Enwei. However, authorities did not specify the exact nature of the alleged offenses.
In addition to the warrants, China has banned all commercial contact with Sicuens International Company Ltd.
The company is reportedly led by businessman Puma Shen and his father, who Chinese authorities say are supporters of Taiwan independence.
Sicuens specializes in sourcing bicycle parts from China. Shen also heads the Kuma Academy, an organization that encourages Taiwanese people to prepare for a possible invasion.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s Cabinet, stated that Sicuens engages in trade and business cooperation with certain mainland enterprises in pursuit of economic benefits.
She added, The mainland side will never allow enterprises related to die-hard ‘Taiwan independence’ supporters to seek profits in the mainland.
The DPP has dismissed China’s accusations, with Michael Chen, the DPP’s acting director of International Affairs, stating, This is clearly a case of the Chinese Communist Party fabricating a pretext to stir up trouble… What we are seeing now is a textbook example of the bully crying foul.
China considers Taiwan its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Taiwan has responded by strengthening its military, while some private citizens have opened camps for guerrilla warfare training.
