bribery scheme; acquisition maneuver
Refers to underhanded efforts to buy influence, secure a deal, or take over a company through illicit payments or inducements. Often used in political or corporate contexts.
The bribery scheme targeting the politician came to light.
It was reported that the company was carrying out an acquisition maneuver against its rival.
買収 alone means 'buying off' or 'acquisition'; 買収工作 adds the nuance of a calculated scheme or maneuver.
工作 means 'maneuvering' or 'engineering'; when combined with 買収 it specifies the scheme is about bribery or acquisition.
Compound of 買収 (bribery, acquisition) and 工作 (maneuvering, engineering). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with underhanded business or political tactics.