Taipei resists Beijing’s attempt to win over Taiwan – one job at a time
- Taipei has fined more than 30 people from the island for taking up what it says are government positions in mainland China
- Those filling the positions say there is nothing unusual about the posts and there are few other options at home
Authorities in Taiwan have fined dozens of residents for taking up community administration jobs in mainland China, saying Beijing is using the Taiwanese as pawns to promote its political ideology.
But those fined said they had few other job options and Taiwanese authorities misunderstood the nature of the work.
So far, 33 people have been fined NT$100,000 (US$3,225) each for working as assistants at various communities in the mainland coastal city of Xiamen across the Taiwan Strait from the island, according to Ministry of the Interior.
Among those fined were people who accepted offers of at least NT$46,000 per month – or double the starting salary for many Taiwanese graduates – and various other benefits to work with residential management committees in communities in Haicang district.
The job description included mapping out plans for rural development, and helping to increase communication with Taiwanese people to deepen their recognition and acceptance of the mainland system, according to the district’s website.