[World Report] China-Taiwan this time'Pineapple War'… For election intervention?

On February 26, China announced that it would completely stop importing Taiwanese pineapples.

It was a rather abrupt announcement.

Moreover, he added that the measure will take effect on March 1, three days later.

China has cited the issue of ecological safety as a reason, but it is not clear to accept it as it is.

Observations are being made as to whether there is any other intention.

Spokesman Ma Xiao-gwang of the Taiwan Office of the State Council of China said on the 26th that "quarantine harmful organisms have been detected in Taiwanese pineapples since last year". .

The introduction of these pests would pose a serious threat to agricultural production and ecological safety in mainland China.

He emphasized that this measure is "normal" and "conforms to relevant laws and regulations."

Taiwan immediately rebelled.

"It's unacceptable, and China's decision is regrettable," said Chun Ji-jung, head of the Taiwan Agricultural Committee.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post, China notified Taiwan of the discovery of pests in Taiwanese pineapples imported between March and May of last year.

The pest was discovered in 13 of 6,200 samples last year.

99.79% said there were no problems.

In addition, since Taiwanese authorities tightened quarantine in October last year, no single pest detection has been reported.

As China announced, if it poses a serious threat to agricultural production and ecological safety in mainland China, it remains to be questioned why imports were not stopped immediately at the time of detection last year, but now banned later.

First, looking at Taiwan's pineapple export route will help you understand the big picture.

According to China's Taiwan Network, Taiwan exported 45,000 tons of pineapples last year, of which 41,000 tons were exported to mainland China.

That's over 91%.

This was followed by 4.7% from Japan, 2.5% from Hong Kong, and 0.9% from Singapore.

South China Morning Post's figures are higher in China.

According to the media, 97% of Taiwan pineapple exports last year went to mainland China, 2% to Japan, and 1% to Hong Kong.

In any case, it is clear that more than 90% of Taiwan pineapple exports go to mainland China.

Chinese state media are reporting on the scale of damage to Taiwanese farmers from this measure.

The Global Times said that Taiwan will suffer a loss of 1.5 billion Taiwan dollars (about 60.5 billion won).

A pineapple exporter from Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan said, "The Chinese market is a very large part," and "we will hold a meeting to address the import ban," the media reported.

Chinese Taiwanese network cited an official from a large Taiwanese pineapple exporter, saying, "Usually, exports to mainland China will start from mid-February," and "the farmers are crying."

On the other hand, Chinese state media predicted that the damage to Chinese consumers would be modest.

In 2019, the production of pineapples in mainland China was 1.72 million tons, which is 33 times that of 51,000 tons imported from Taiwan that year.

A wholesaler in southern Hainan Province, one of China's major pineapple-producing regions, told the Global Times that "most mainland wholesalers have imported pineapples from Taiwan and have switched to buying them from local farmers in the last two or three years."

He added that Chinese farmers use Taiwanese pineapple seeds, so they taste the same and cut costs in half.

It is understandable to some extent why China is now banning the import of Taiwanese pineapples.

China's ban on imports of Taiwanese pineapples is in line with Taiwan's political landscape.

Pineapples are a major source of income for southern Taiwanese farmers, and southern Taiwan has traditionally been a strong supporter of the independent ruling Democratic Party.

In the by-election of the South Kaohsiung Mayor held in August last year, the Democratic Party candidate won 70% of the votes, overtaking the Guomin Party candidate who pursued close relations with China.

There is a glimpse of China's intention to hurt the Democratic Party's support base or worsen public opinion on the Democratic Party.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic People's Party (DPRK) has set out to catch public opinion.

The Taiwan Agricultural Commission has said it will provide 1 billion Taiwan dollars (about 40.3 billion won) to preserve the income of farmers in the southern regions.

This is equivalent to two-thirds of the estimated loss of Taiwanese farm households previously predicted by the state media.

President Tsai Ing-won also took off on his own.

President Chai posted a post on social media saying'Let's eat pineapple, let's support farmers' in a photo holding a pineapple.

With the aim of exporting 30,000 tons of pineapples, they said they would open the export markets of the United States, Japan and Singapore, not China.

“Taiwan pineapples are highly nutritious, juicy and sweet,” he demanded to promote Taiwan pineapple consumption.

Some Taiwanese netizens have suggested "Let's raise money and advertise pineapples in foreign newspapers", and various recipes using pineapples are posted on social media.

Both sides of China and Taiwan, which have collided in all directions, such as military armed demonstrations since President Tsai Ing-won took office, are now facing sharpening conflict over pineapple.