HONG KONG, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The chief executive of China Strategic Holdings Ltd said on Wednesday that he did not understand the decision by Taiwan's regulators to block the $2.2 billion agreement to buy American International Group Inc's (AIG) Nan Shan Life Insurance unit.
Raymond Or said if China Strategic and its partner on the deal Primus Financial were to appeal the ruling, they would address their long-term commitment to the agreement and the group's ability to fund the purchase.
Or said he was pleased that the Taiwanese regulators looked at the offer as a foreign investment and not as a Chinese bid. Earlier reactions in Taiwan against the deal focused on the politically sensitive concerns that the consortium was made up of money and investors from China.
The press release announcing Taiwan's rejection states "that this case should be treated as a foreign investement, not a mainland Chinese investment, and that makes us feel better," Or said.
China Strategic and Primus have long fought the notion that their group is backed by mainland Chinese money.
Or added that if AIG and Primus agreed, the consortium would appeal Taiwan's ruling. They have 30 days to appeal since the decision was disclosed on Tuesday. (Reporting by Alison Leung; Editing by Chris Lewis)