Taiwanese official's 'China-dependent' fruit comment sparks farmer anger

Taiwanese ruling party officials have sparked outrage among farmers and opposition lawmakers with comments suggesting that the island's pineapple soursop production is "entirely dependent on the Chinese market" and that "Taiwanese people almost don't eat it." The remarks, made by Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng, have been strongly condemned by Kuomintang legislator Huang Chien-bin.

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Taiwanese people almost don't eat it and is a product completely dependent on the Chinese Communist Party's whims.

Huang accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government of hypocrisy, recalling that Vice President Lai Ching-te had visited Taitung five years prior, expressed his fondness for the fruit, and promised farmers they would "never be left alone" when exports to China were previously disrupted. "Now, a decade into DPP rule, an official says Taiwanese people don't eat it and it's completely reliant on China?" Huang questioned, adding, "Does he not consider himself Taiwanese when he said he loved eating it?"

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Last night, vows of love; this morning, 'Sorry.'

The legislator argued that such statements not only deeply hurt farmers but also reflected a government that fails to solve problems, instead resorting to labeling hardworking agricultural producers. He stressed that pineapple soursop is a significant economic crop built on years of farmers' investment and effort. "An official's words negate decades of effort, leaving farmers heartbroken," Huang stated.

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If the government believes the Chinese market is too risky, it should propose concrete alternative solutions.

Huang urged the government to provide tangible solutions if it believes the Chinese market poses too high a risk. He called for central government assistance in helping farmers diversify their markets, rather than dismissing existing ones. "Tell the farmers clearly: What do you want us to grow? Which country do you want us to sell to?" Huang demanded, emphasizing that farmers need orders and market access, not political labels or slogans.

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Do not let Taitung farmers worry about stepping on the 'Mainland Affairs Council's red line' just for growing agricultural products.