Taiwan is calling on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to investigate the legitimacy of China's sudden ban on importing various fruits from Taiwan. The WTO plans to discuss this case starting Wednesday.
China says it has found plant pests in the shipment of pineapples, wax apples, and custard apples. Taiwanese officials say they believe these are baseless claims meant to hurt Taiwan's economy.
Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung says that Taiwan has already prepared enough evidence to prove that China's ban on Taiwan's fruits does not follow international trade protocol. Chen says he hopes that China will resume importing Taiwan's fruits in the near future.
Premier Su Tseng-chang says it doesn't make sense for China to ban Taiwan's fruit over the fear of "plant pests", and this sort of behavior should not be accepted by the international community. Su points out Japan has the most strict inspection regulations in the world for importing foreign produce, and it has not raised concerns over the safety of Taiwan's fruit.
Su said China suddenly raising this argument without scientific proof violates international trade protocol and the WTO should stand up to protect Taiwan's rights.