In September 2021, China banned the import of sugar apples, or atemoya, from Taiwan, claiming they were bringing in pests. Critics say pests are an excuse and that China is weaponizing trade with Taiwan. And this isn’t the first time. In February 2021, China banned the import of Taiwanese pineapples, causing a backlog and threatening farmers’ livelihoods across the country.
How China uses fruit to punish Taiwan
But it’s not just about fruit
Christina Thornell is a senior producer for the Vox video team.
The current situation is tied to a complex history that goes back to the Chinese civil war, as well as to recent tensions that go back to 2016 when Taiwan elected a new president. Since then, Chinese military incursions into Taiwan’s airspace have been on the rise, and the relationship between the two has kept deteriorating. Fruit is the latest expression of this.
To understand how the atemoya ban impacts farmers in Taiwan and how it all ties together, watch our video.
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