Advertisement

China’s ban on Taiwanese pineapples sours sentiment towards Beijing

  • Taiwanese President Tsai heads to pineapple-growing region to assure farmers her government ‘is watching your back’
  • Big corporations put in big orders for the fruit as public urged to support growers

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
27
Farmers sell pineapples at a stall by the road in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on February 27, 2021. Photo: Reuters
Authorities in Taiwan are urging the public to buy pineapples and support growers as a ban on imports into mainland China takes effect.
Advertisement
Beijing announced the ban on Taiwan’s pineapples on Friday, citing the discovery of pests on the Taiwanese imports “on multiple occasions” since last year.

The surprise announcement, which took effect on Monday, has fuelled public resentment on the island. Relations with the mainland have soured since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected the island’s president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle.

To counter the ban, the public and private sectors have been promoting sales of the fruit for local consumption.

Tsai has also been trying to reassure farmers in person, heading south to Kaohsiung, one of Taiwan’s pineapple production centres, on Sunday to address concerns.

Advertisement

“No need to panic or worry. The government is watching your back,” she said.

Advertisement