Taiwan’s premier has hit back at calls by the main opposition party to hold talks with China. Su Tseng-chang says it is “extremely inappropriate” to demand negotiations while Beijing carries out military exercises near Taiwan.
The opposition Kuomintang says talks are needed to end China’s import bans on Taiwanese agricultural products. Those include embargos on things like citrus fruit and grouper fish.
Beijing banned an array of new products in the wake of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Not just that: it flew warplanes, sailed battleships and fired missiles near Taiwan’s main island to show its military power.
The Kuomintang stirred up controversy by sending its vice chair on a trip to China — right at the height of the military activity.
Premier Su says the trip sent “the wrong message” to the international community and didn’t solve any of the problems Taiwan is facing.
But the Kuomintang says the government is blocking positive dialogue between Taiwan and China that could solve the import ban issue and help Taiwan’s farmers and fishers.