China Sanctions Taipei Mayoral Candidate’s Family Business as ‘Ocean Current’ Campaign Gains Momentu

China has imposed fresh sanctions on a company linked to the father of Shen Po-yang, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate for Taipei mayor, as his “Ocean Current” campaign attracts growing attention ahead of Taiwan’s municipal elections.

The Oct. 14 announcement followed allegations published by pro-Beijing Hong Kong media that Shen’s family continued conducting business with Chinese companies despite earlier sanctions. Taiwan’s government has condemned the move as an attempt to influence the election, while Shen has dismissed the allegations as recycled political attacks.

Shen’s “Taipei Ocean Current” campaign, which combines street rallies, campaign motorcades, and voter outreach, has drawn enthusiastic crowds in several Taipei districts. The latest sanctions have added another dimension to an increasingly contentious mayoral race.

Beijing targets a second family company

On Oct. 13, the pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po reported that Chao Yi Co., a company operated by Shen’s father, Shen Tu-cheng, had continued doing business in China through another company, VWAY Co. Ltd., despite sanctions imposed in June 2025.

The newspaper alleged that VWAY conducted nearly $700,000 in trade with Chinese companies following the earlier sanctions. According to the report, the company recorded approximately $689,800 in trade between June 2025 and March 2026, exceeding its reported trade volume over the preceding three years.

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At an Oct. 14 press conference, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Chen Binhua announced additional sanctions against VWAY.

According to the official announcement published by Xinhua, Chen accused Shen Tu-cheng of attempting to “evade sanctions” by continuing trade with Chinese enterprises through VWAY.

Chen also accused Shen Po-yang of opposing Beijing while benefiting from business relationships with mainland companies. He declared that China would not permit companies associated with what Beijing calls “diehard Taiwan independence separatists” to profit from the Chinese market.

The new sanctions prohibit VWAY from conducting transactions or cooperating with Chinese organizations, companies, or individuals.

This marks the second round of economic penalties targeting businesses associated with Shen’s father.

Beijing first sanctioned Chao Yi on June 5, 2025. The following month, Chinese customs authorities revoked the company’s registration.

At the time, Chen declared that Beijing would not tolerate individuals profiting from business in China while supporting Taiwan independence.

Shen rejects allegations as election interference

Shen Po-yang rejected the latest allegations, accusing pro-Beijing media of repeatedly publishing misleading reports about his family.

Speaking to reporters on Oct. 14, Shen said the accusations had circulated for years and had already been addressed.

According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), Shen said Hong Kong media had been attacking him since 2024 and were now recycling the same allegations.

He maintained that his family’s business interests were primarily connected to Ecuador, rather than China, and said the reports had misrepresented those commercial relationships.

Referring to Beijing’s repeated sanctions and other measures against him, Shen challenged the Taiwan Affairs Office to reveal what “new dish” it intended to serve this time.

Shen also questioned the timing of the allegations, which emerged during the Taipei mayoral campaign.

In comments reported by Liberty Times, Shen insisted that the mayoral election was a matter for Taipei residents, not Beijing. He accused Chinese authorities of attempting to smear him during the campaign.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued a stronger condemnation, accusing Beijing of directly interfering in the island’s democratic process.

In a statement reported by Focus Taiwan, the council described the sanctions as part of a coordinated effort involving targeted media coverage and economic pressure.

“This is clearly a malicious attempt to coerce Taiwanese society and interfere in our democratic elections,” the council said.

The MAC noted that the latest sanctions followed the same pattern as the previous measures against Shen’s family: allegations first appeared in pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers, followed by punitive announcements from Chinese authorities.

The council pledged to protect the legitimate rights of Taiwanese citizens and businesses while defending the island’s democratic institutions.

Academic warns of broader Chinese election interference

Taiwanese academic and cybersecurity expert Lee Chung-hsien warned that the sanctions reflected a broader effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to influence Taiwan’s political future.

In an October Facebook post, subsequently republished by Liberty Times, Lee argued that Beijing was determined to prevent Shen from winning the Taipei mayoral election.

“China certainly does not want Shen Po-yang to be elected,” Lee wrote, adding that Beijing was doing everything possible to prevent that outcome.

Lee pointed to remarks by veteran media personality Jaw Shaw-kong, who had called for Taiwan’s national security agencies to investigate Chinese interference in the election.

According to Lee, the issue had moved beyond ordinary electoral competition and become a matter of national security.

He also cited entertainer Kevin Tsai Kang-yung, who reportedly faced pressure connected to China after attending one of Shen’s campaign events.

Lee questioned why similar scrutiny was not directed toward other Taiwanese political figures with business connections to China.

He specifically raised questions about Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s family and the China-related business activities of a U.S. law firm where Chiang previously worked.

Lee argued that Beijing had political reasons to avoid damaging Chiang, suggesting that China’s intervention in Taipei politics had become increasingly direct.

However, Lee emphasized that conducting legitimate business with China was not inherently objectionable.

Citing MediaTek Chairman Tsai Ming-kai, whose company maintains extensive commercial relationships with China, Lee argued that the crucial distinction was whether such economic activity threatened Taiwan’s national security.

He compared the current controversy to Taiwan’s earlier opposition to Chinese semiconductor conglomerate Tsinghua Unigroup.

“The question in opposing Tsinghua Unigroup was whether this would endanger Taiwan’s national security and future economic development,” Lee wrote.

The academic also expressed concern about Shen’s well-being, noting that the candidate continued responding to political attacks late into the night.

“Many people have told him to go back to sleep and take care of his health,” Lee wrote. “His body is no longer just his own; it has become connected, to some extent, with Taiwan’s fate.”

Lee concluded by warning that Beijing’s attempts to influence Taiwan’s political affairs were unlikely to end with the latest sanctions.

“China’s methods of interfering in elections certainly will not stop here,” he wrote.