The Guardian - China-China launches tax investigations into Apple iPhone maker Foxconn
October 23, 2023 2 min 370 words
这则报道涉及到中国对富士康（Foxconn）展开的税务和土地使用调查，而这些调查恰逢该公司创始人宣布角逐台湾总统选举。这一举措看似带有政治动机，因为中国政府部门并未正式宣布相关调查。富士康，也被称为鸿海科技集团，是苹果手机的主要供应商之一，其创始人郭台铭早在2023年8月宣布参选台湾2024总统选举，不久后辞去了公司董事会职务。富士康表示将积极合作，强调了在全球范围内的法律合规原则。 这一报道突显出台湾独立问题的紧张局势，中国一直试图将台湾纳入中国，尽管台湾民众和主要政党广泛抵制这一计划。郭台铭宣布参选时承诺“为台湾海峡带来50年的和平，建立台海互信的深厚基础”，并将乌克兰与台湾进行了比较，警告台湾不要成为下一个乌克兰。他还指责台湾现任总统蔡英文的执政党升级了紧张局势。这一情况突显出台海地区的紧张局势，值得密切关注。
China’s tax authorities have launched multiple investigations into the company that makes the iPhone, months after its billionaire founder announced he would run in Taiwan’s presidential elections.
Foxconn faces tax audits of its operations in China, as well as investigations into land use in two Chinese provinces, according to reports by local media.
The investigations, which were confirmed by the Taiwan-based manufacturer but have not been officially announced by any of China’s government departments, are thought to be politically motivated.
Foxconn’s founder, Terry Gou, announced in August he would run as an independent leadership candidate in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election. Gou, a well-known and outspoken businessman, resigned from the company’s board days after announcing his election bid.
Foxconn, which is one of Apple’s largest supplier of smartphones and is also known as Hon Hai Technology Group, said it would cooperate with the investigations. “Legal compliance everywhere we operate around the world is a fundamental principle of Hon Hai Technology Group. We will actively cooperate with the relevant units on the related work and operations.”
The news sent Foxconn shares down more than 2% on Monday. Apple shares were flat in pre-market trading.
Gou’s presidential candidacy comes amid ongoing tension over Taiwan’s independence, with China having vowed to subsume Taiwan into the Chinese state, under what it calls “reunification” plans. That is despite widespread resistance by Taiwan’s population and its main political parties.
China cut communications with Taipei in 2016 and has become increasingly aggressive, sending greater numbers of war plans and ships into Taiwan’s air defence zone in recent years.
Gou used the launch of his presidential bid to declare that he would “bring 50 years of peace to the Taiwan strait and build the deepest foundation for the mutual trust across the strait”.
He also made comparisons with Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in early 2022. He also blamed President Tsai Ing-wen’s ruling party for escalating tensions.
“Under the rule of the Democratic Progressive party in the past seven years or so, internationally, they led Taiwan towards the danger of war. Domestically, their policies are filled with mistakes,” he said previously.
“Taiwan must not become Ukraine and I will not let Taiwan become the next Ukraine,” Gou added.