China’s top Taiwan affairs official says Beijing will work to resume the import of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products. That’s the word from Taiwan Affairs Office head Song Tao (宋濤) while meeting with a Taiwanese agricultural and fishery industries group.
Song says both sides of the strait desire peace, development, exchange, and cooperation. He supports Taiwanese farmers and fisherfolk sharing China's development opportunities. Song says he will work with the relevant authorities to ensure Taiwanese exports of agricultural and fishery products resume.
In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says since March 2021, China has used excuses like pests and pesticide standards to unilaterally restrict Taiwanese imports. It says these restrictions came without warning and contravened World Trade Organization rules.
The council says these actions damaged regular cross-strait trade mechanisms. It adds when Taiwanese officials sought to work with their Chinese counterparts to resolve the problem, they were ignored.
Song’s remarks come as Chinese authorities have recently softened their stance towards Taiwan in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. An opposition KMT delegation last week met with Song and other top Chinese officials.