China curbs trade with Taiwan following Pelosi's visit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Aug 2022 11:01

To counter the US' interference in its internal affairs, China is imposing restrictions on the purchase of fruit and seafood from Taiwan, as well as stopping sand supplies to the island.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan violated the Three Joint Communiqués between China and America

Following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China imposed restrictions on the purchase of fruit and seafood from Taiwan, as well as stopping sand supplies to the island. Pelosi's journey to Taiwan, as the second in line to the presidency and the highest-profile elected US politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years, has sparked a diplomatic storm.

Despite increasingly stern warnings from China, Pelosi arrived late Tuesday, with Beijing announcing that this action would come in violation of the Three Joint Communiqués, the first of which would be the "One China Policy."

It must take credible actions to observe strictly the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, and should not go further down the wrong and dangerous path.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) August 2, 2022

China's Customs Administration announced Wednesday that it will restrict fruit imports from Taiwan due to claimed "repeated" discovery of excessive pesticide residue, as well as fish imports due to positive coronavirus tests.

Separately, the Commerce Ministry stated that it will "suspend the export of natural sand to Taiwan" beginning Wednesday, without offering any specifics. Natural sand is commonly utilized in the manufacture of concrete and asphalt, and the majority of Taiwan's imported sand and gravel originates from China.

According to official figures, China and Taiwan's bilateral commerce increased 26% year on year to $328 billion in 2021. It is not the first time that Beijing has targeted the island's exports. Pressure between China and Taiwan has increased since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, given that the latter claims the island's status as a de facto independent republic separate from "one China."

China strongly urges the United States to stop playing the “Taiwan card” and using Taiwan to contain China. It should stop supporting and conniving at “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in any form.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) August 2, 2022

Meanwhile, Chinese officials announced planned live-fire military drills around Taiwan, where Pelosi will be staying, threatening major ports and metropolitan centers, according to Taipei. According to coordinates supplied by the People's Liberation Army, the zone of Chinese activities will reach within 20 kilometers of Taiwan's shoreline at several spots.