Taiwan businessman Tsao to sue Chinese officials over sanctions

United Microelectronics

11/11/2024 03:43

TAIPEI, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Taiwanese businessman Robert
Tsao said on Monday he would sue in a Taiwan court senior
Chinese officials over sanctions they had placed on him, saying
he was seeking to counter China's intimidation of lawful
activity.
    China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, last month
said it would punish and sanction Tsao, the retired founder of
chipmaker UMC  2303.TW , for alleged criminal and pro-Taiwan
independence activities.
    China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the "Black Bear Academy"
that Tsao has helped fund was seeking to incite separatism that
would endanger cross-strait ties.
    Tsao, one of Taiwan's richest men who has pledged to provide
millions to two civilian defence training programmes, told a
press conference that China was threatening the lawful holding
of political views in Taiwan and his personal safety.
    The lawsuit will be lodged in a Taipei court against Song
Tao, head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, and also the
office's spokesperson Chen Binhua.
    Taiwan courts have no jurisdiction in China and senior
Chinese officials do not visit the island.
    China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request
for comment.
    Cheng Wen-lung, one of Tsao's lawyers, said they knew
neither Song nor Chen would come to Taiwan and there would be no
way of enforcing any judgement, but the case was about sending a
message to Beijing given it has been seeking to use legal means
to put pressure on Taiwanese it does not like.
    "Legally, we have to do this," Cheng said. "Taiwan is in a
difficult spot, but we have to work hard. You cannot not do
anything."
    Tsao's team is also looking at suing in a U.S. court under
that country's Alien Tort Claims Act.  
    China's announcement against Tsao came as the country's
military staged a day of war games around Taiwan it said were a
warning to "separatist acts". Taiwan's government rejects
Beijing's sovereignty claims.
    UMC says Tsao has nothing to do with the company any longer
having retired a decade ago.

 (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
 ((ben.blanchard@thomsonreuters.com;))