TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Chinese pressure on the Taiwanese-operated Evergreen Laurel Hotel after a dispute over the absence of a Chinese flag will only increase international resentment against China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday (Aug. 24).

The dispute started when a Chinese travel influencer complained about the absence of the Chinese flag from a lineup of flags from nations participating in the Paris Olympics. As a result, Chinese netizens called for a boycott of the hotels in the chain operated by the Evergreen Group, one of Taiwan’s largest hospitality, shipping, and transportation groups.

On Friday (Aug. 23), the group issued a statement saying it opposed Taiwan independence and accepted the “1992 consensus.” The formula referred to Taiwan-China talks in 1992, which Beijing said reached an agreement about the existence of “one China,” but which the current Taiwan government has rejected as fiction.

MOFA said it strongly condemned the use of netizens by the Chinese government to impose political views on businesses, Radio Taiwan International (RTI) reported. Beijing’s pressure on international companies, just like its previous threats against Taiwanese entertainers, would backfire and damage China’s global image, MOFA said.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) also produced a strong condemnation of China’s behavior, per RTI. Beijing should not manipulate nationalism and encourage netizens to bully Taiwanese businesses, the MAC said.

The companies had made significant contributions to China’s economy, so Beijing should improve the investment climate instead of allowing irrational actions to damage efforts to improve cross-strait relations, the MAC said.