China has put new pressure on Taiwan by punishing a company led by the father of Taiwanese lawmaker Puma Shen, also known as Shen Pao-yang. Shen is part of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan and co-founded Kuma Academy, which trains people for emergencies and civil defence.
The Chinese government believes that Kuma Academy spreads ideas that support Taiwan becoming independent from China. Because of this, both Shen and the academy have already been sanctioned. Now, China is going after his family business, Sicuens International Co Ltd, led by his father Shen Tu-cheng.
Chinese officials say Sicuens has been doing business with companies in mainland China for years, buying goods like bicycle parts and textiles and then selling them in South America and other places. China says it won’t allow businesses tied to “stubborn Taiwan independence figures” to make money from Chinese markets.
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Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), said the government had done a full investigation and found that Sicuens International had worked with Chinese businesses to gain economic benefits. She said, “The mainland will never permit businesses affiliated with staunch supporters of ‘Taiwan independence’ to seek profits on the mainland.”
Because of this, China announced that it is banning the company from doing business with any person or group in the mainland. This includes all kinds of trade and partnerships. Zhu added that other strict steps could also be taken if needed.
The action comes after earlier sanctions were placed on Puma Shen and business tycoon Robert Tsao Hsing-cheng, a major donor to Kuma Academy. China accuses Shen of spreading ideas about separating Taiwan from China, especially among Taiwan’s youth. Chinese spokesperson Chen Binhua even said Shen is planting “seeds of potential violence and conflict” across the Taiwan Strait.
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After hearing about the new sanctions, Puma Shen went online and strongly denied any wrongdoing. He said his family’s business is legal and follows all the rules. He explained that Sicuens International imports goods from places like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China, and sells them to markets in Africa and South America. Shen said it was unfair to claim the company was doing anything illegal or suspicious.
Shen believes the real reason for the punishment is his political work in Taiwan. He has worked on laws that focus on civil defence, foreign threats, and stopping political influence from China. “Just breathing is labelled as advocating for Taiwan independence,” he wrote on social media.
He also accused China of trying to scare people in Taiwan through a type of influence called “cognitive warfare”—using fear and confusion to shape how people think. Shen said China’s actions show that anyone who supports protecting Taiwan will be targeted.
Recently, China opened a new section on its Taiwan Affairs Office website where people can report others who support Taiwan independence. Within hours, hundreds of reports came in. By mid-April, over 3,000 emails had been received. Zhu Fenglian said these tips would be reviewed and acted on, and that people found guilty would face strict punishment.
