TAIPEI/BEIJING 鈥 Taiwan threatened to take China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Sunday after Beijing said it would suspend sugar apple and wax apple imports from the island on pest concerns, in the latest spat between the two over fruit.听听
Relations between Taipei and Beijing, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, are at their lowest in decades, with China increasing political and military pressure to get the island to accept its sovereignty.听听
China鈥檚 customs administration said it had repeatedly detected pests called听Planococcus听minor听in sugar apples, also known as sweetsops or custard apples, and wax apples from Taiwan. It asked its Guangdong branch and all directly affiliated offices to stop customs clearance of those products from Monday.听听
Taiwan鈥檚 Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung听said China had behaved unilaterally without providing scientific evidence, and criticized the announcement for coming during the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated by Taiwan and China.听听
鈥淲e cannot accept this,鈥 Mr. Chen told reporters in Taipei about the decision, which he said his office had only received at 9 a.m. on Sunday.听听
Taiwan has told China it will take the country to the WTO under the body鈥檚 dispute resolution mechanism if Beijing does not respond to Taipei鈥檚 request to resolve the issue under their existing bilateral framework before Sept. 30, he added.听听
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted that, following its military threats, China was now 鈥渨eaponizing trade鈥 and the move should cast doubt over its application last week to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade group.听听
鈥淐hina wants to join the high-standard CPTPP? Is this a joke?鈥 Mr. Wu said.听听
Sugar apples and wax apples are Taiwan specialties, although most are consumed domestically. The island is also known for its mangoes.听听
This is the second time this year China has stopped fruit imports from Taiwan.听听
In February, China banned imports of pineapples from Taiwan, citing 鈥渉armful creatures鈥 that could come with the fruit. Taiwan had said there was nothing wrong with the pineapples and accused Beijing of playing politics. 鈥斕Reuters听
