New incident between Taipei and Beijing around the importation of Taiwanese fruits
Shilin Night Market in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on November 24, 2018 (illustrative image).
Yuri Smityuk / TASS - Yuri Smityuk
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
China announced this Sunday, September 19, to ban the import of two Taiwanese fruits, officially for health reasons.
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With our correspondent in Taipei,
Adrien Simorre
Apple cinnamon and Taiwanese jamalac, two local specialties, will no longer be on Chinese market stalls. China claims that parasites have been found in these two fruits that Taiwan has made the specialty of. But for Taipei, it is not: China's decision is political and aims to destabilize the Taiwanese economy and society.
This decision constitutes a new act in the rise of tensions between China and Taiwan, this archipelago of 24 million inhabitants de facto independent but threatened with invasion by Beijing.
"
In addition to its military threats, China uses trade as a weapon,
" Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted on Sunday, adding that it was a "
hostile
decision
, contrary to international standards."
"
Taiwan threatens to bring China to the WTO
The Taiwanese government immediately announced that it would take the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if China does not lift its decision.
China's latest coercive trade tactics against our java apple & sugar apple are unacceptable, Taiwan will file a formal complaint to the @wto.
Meanwhile, we'll do everything to help Taiwanese farmers expand & diversify markets, including putting in place a 1 billion program.
- 王定宇 Wang Ting-yu, MP (@MPWangTingyu) September 19, 2021
Translation: "
China's latest coercive trade tactics against our java apple and sugar apple are unacceptable, Taiwan will file a formal complaint with @wto."
Meanwhile, we will do everything to help Taiwanese farmers expand and diversify their markets, including putting in place a billion dollar program.
"
The episode has airs of deja vu
Last February, China blocked the
importation of Taiwanese pineapples
for the same reasons.
The decision had finally turned against Beijing and a vast movement of solidarity had formed around the Taiwanese pineapples.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had even advertised: “
As a supporter of freedom, to taste Taiwanese dried pineapple.
Checkmate.
"
As a proponent of freedom, enjoying some Taiwanese dried pineapple.
Checkmate.
pic.twitter.com/Y0wD2E3GDt
- Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) April 11, 2021
►
To read also: Centenary of the Chinese Communist Party: Taiwan "determined" to defend itself
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Trade and Trade
Agriculture and Fishing