China has suspended imports of Taiwan mangoes, claiming that pests (Planococcus Minor mealybugs) were found. The suspension is effective Monday, and China’s General Administration of Customs has asked Taiwan to improve its quarantine management mechanism.
China has used fruit in diplomacy before, and the suspension comes days after Beijing announced naval and air force drills as a “stern warning” to what it called Taiwan independence forces. It has reacted angrily to the transit of Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te through the US, having also condemned his remarks about Taiwan’s status.
Taiwan deeply regrets that China has “repeatedly” suspended trade arbitrarily, without scientific dialogue, the island’s Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement. It will continue urging China to conduct technical dialogue with Taiwan in search of a reasonable solution and the resumption of mango sales as early as possible.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca