"It is true that the local people resent us a bit," said a Taiwan businessman who has been in Xiamen for several years.

"It makes a lot of sense if you think about it," said a Taiwan businessman who is general manager for an American company in Shanghai.

These Taiwan businessmen not only have votes.

The banker said he did not know whether the Taiwan businessmen were American citizens.

Taiwan recognizes dual citizenship, and many Taiwan businessmen are American citizens.

Despite bans on direct trade, Taiwan businessmen are making substantial investments in China.

Most Taiwan businessmen here prefer to focus on the positive, saying that they cannot imagine that any blood will be spilled and that business opportunities are still good.

But today, with politics threatening to undercut China's prosperity, the Taiwan businessmen occupy a somewhat precarious position: they are insiders, but they do not quite belong.

Greater contact with Hong Kong and Taiwan businessmen has cultivated a booming prostitution industry.

Dr. Wang has denied reports that the Taiwan Government helps finance the magazine, although he said Taiwan businessmen had been among the contributors to his group.