How is China using 'fruits' to impose sanctions on Taiwan?
In February 2021, China completely banned the import of multiple fruits, including pineapples, from Taiwan on the grounds of 'pests', hitting Taiwanese farmers who are heavily dependent on trade with China. Gave. Vox, an online media outlet, explains what China is planning to embargo on fruits, not just trade sanctions.
In Taiwan, the Kuomintang has been in power for much of its history since the establishment of the Taiwanese National Government in 1949.
However, in 2014, the Kuomintang began a large-scale social movement against deliberations to lift restrictions on trade in services with China and to ratify the Cross- Strait Service Trade Agreement to liberalize the market. The approval rating of the Kuomintang has plummeted. In 2016, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party won its second government for the first time in about 17 years since 2000, and the Democratic Progressive Party continues to be the ruling party in 2022.
Vox said, 'Unlike the Kuomintang, which had a policy closer to China, the Democratic Progressive Party is opposed to China. Five years have passed since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power, and the relationship between Taiwan and China has cooled. I'm out. ' 'China has sent hundreds of fighters into Taiwan's airspace in 2021 alone, conducting military exercises in the surrounding area and forcing countries to formally recognize Taiwan as belonging to China,' he said. I will explain that the relationship with China has been deteriorating in recent years.
According to Vox, one of China's attempts to isolate Taiwan from the world is 'fruit import restrictions.' Taiwan relies heavily on trade relations with China, with approximately a quarter of Taiwan's exports shipped to China.
Chiao Chun, who is familiar with the relationship between fruits and politics, said, 'The trade relationship between Taiwan and China looks like an equivalent exchange on the surface, but this is China's containment strategy to secure Taiwan's agriculture, farmers and agricultural products. 'Politics and elections are behind China's embargo on fruits. China's ban on imports has caused great damage to farmers and criticized the government for worsening relations with China. There is a possibility that it will be caused. '
After banning the import of pineapple in 2021, China has also banned the import of fruit
Hsieh Jin-hung, who grows Atemoya in Taiwan, said, 'Around 2014, the export volume from Taiwan to China increased dramatically, so I and the people in the region switched to Atemoya to take advantage of this trend. This has tripled production and earned more jobs and wages. '' But the ban has reduced income by 50% so that we can sell the fruits without loss. We need to help each other. '
In addition, pineapple is the most popular fruit exported to China, and its export value amounted to 60 million dollars (about 7.4 billion yen), so the Taiwanese government, which was hit hard by the Chinese government's embargo, is domestic. Implemented a 'pineapple consumption campaign' to call on leaders from each store and neighboring countries. As a result, one year's worth of pineapple was purchased domestically in four days, and Japan took the place of China in overseas exports.
However, local farmers say, 'These sales channels are incomparable to the Chinese route.' Min Li-ming, a pineapple farmer, said, 'If we can't sell to China, we can't sell fruits to Southeast Asia, which is cheaper than Taiwan, and we have to sell to Japan and South Korea. But this route goes to China. Sales costs will increase by 20% to 30% compared to the export of pineapple. It is a big loss for us farmers. ' We farmers are not benefiting from it. '
Mr. Chun said, 'The government should have taken measures when the dependence on China was very high, but the current situation is still better than before. Farmers are taking measures such as changing the cultivated items. I will. ' 'As long as Taiwanese farmers are at the center of this geopolitical battle, their livelihoods will continue to be at risk,' Vox concludes.
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