TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO, 國台辦) accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) of politicizing the ban on popular Chinese snacks, including "Huang Fei Hong Spicy Crispy Peanut" (黃飛紅麻辣花生), on Wednesday (Oct. 30).
During a regular press briefing, TAO Spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) claimed the DPP government prohibited the import and sale of these peanuts because they originate from mainland China.
Zhu highlighted the growing interest in mainland Chinese snacks among Taiwanese consumers, mentioning items like spicy peanuts, snail rice noodles, konjac snacks, and flower cakes. She encouraged Chinese online users to recommend tasty snacks to Taiwanese friends and invited more Taiwanese people to visit mainland China to discover local delicacies.
Zhu also emphasized that mainland China has supported Taiwanese agricultural products entering its market, benefiting Taiwanese farmers. However, she criticized the DPP for its pro-independence stance, which she said hinders cross-strait cooperation and restricts over 1,000 mainland agricultural products from entering Taiwan, damaging the interests of people on both sides.
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (經濟部) stated in January 2023 that it never permitted the import of Chinese-made snail noodles or the well-known Huang Fei Hong Spicy Crispy Peanut, and konjac snacks are generally banned. The ministry also advised the non-storefront retail association to monitor these restrictions.