TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je criticized China's decision for stopping the import of Taiwanese mangoes on Tuesday (Aug. 22).
Just a day earlier, China's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council announced that it had detected Planococcus citri, a harmful pest commonly known as citrus mealybug, in mango imports from Taiwan this year. As a result, the import of Taiwanese mangoes will be suspended starting on Aug. 22.
Ko remarked that the crux of the issue lies in insufficient communication between both sides.
"Taking more actions such as these only creates more distance between China and the Taiwanese people," Ko admonished the CCP authorities.
Regarding the issue, Ko questioned why mainland China was the first to halt imports. He pointed out that Taiwanese mangoes have also been exported to Japan and South Korea, both of which have even higher inspection standards, yet these countries have not stopped their imports.
Ko further emphasized the importance of communication, urging mainland China to explain why imports have not been halted in Japan and South Korea, but only on the mainland. "Communication is essential in the face of issues; it's the only way to find solutions," he stated.