-KH News Desk
Ahead of an anticipated visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China reportedly tried to put economic pressure on a crucial industry by blocking shipments from more than 100 Taiwanese food exporters. Food items imported from the bakery and fruit industry were suspended.
As the highest-ranking American politician to visit Taiwan since former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did so in 1997, Ms. Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday for South Korea after speaking with President Tsai Ing-wen and delivering a speech to the legislature. The Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon, a Taiwanese civilian honor, was presented to her by Ms. Tsai.
China promptly released a statement, charging the US with breaking the ‘One China’ principle, which asserts that Taiwan is a part of China.
Import of important items like biscuits and pastries was also suspended. According to Taiwanese media, biscuits and pastries accounted for over two-thirds of Taiwan’s $646 million in exports in 2021.
In addition to halting imports of biscuits and pastries from Taiwan, China has also banned various citrus fruits and some fish imports from the island nation, including chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel.
The Chinese blockade is the most recent in a slew of actions Beijing has taken to target Taiwan’s agriculture sector. South Taiwan’s fruit-growing regions are frequently strongholds of the Democratic Progressive Party, which supports Taiwan’s official independence and is led by President Tsai Ing-wen.
In June, China also halted imports of Taiwanese grouper fish after “prohibited medicines” were found in them.
When China abruptly banned the import of pineapples from the island last year, it caught Taiwan off guard. In September, Beijing followed it up by prohibiting the importation of wax and sugar apples. Taiwan produces fruit primarily for home use, but the vast majority of its exports go to China.
According to agricultural minister Chen Chi-chung, Taiwan’s grouper exports to mainland China previously made up 36% of all output in Taiwan and 91% of all export sales to the island.
“In the past, 80 per cent of Taiwan’s fruit exports relied on a single market in the mainland, but now it has shrunk to 45 per cent,” he said last month.
According to agricultural minister Chen Chi-chung, Taiwan’s grouper exports to mainland China previously made up 36% of all output in Taiwan and 91% of all export sales to the island.
“In the past, 80 per cent of Taiwan’s fruit exports relied on a single market in the mainland, but now it has shrunk to 45 per cent,” he said last month.
