Beijing seems to be switching gears and embracing a ‘sweeter’ strategy—the so-called “fruit diplomacy.”
On Monday, China banned imports of one of Taiwan’s prized crops: mango.
Saying fruit from the island, which is enjoyed by many Chinese consumers was discovered to carry a species of mealy-bug insects.
Taiwanese officials confirmed news of the ban, calling it “one-sided.”
But they added that the halt is “having limited impacts” thanks to Taiwan’s trade with the overseas markets. The island has worked to bolster those relations as part of reducing its reliance on mainland China.
Japan, Korea, and Singapore take in much of those exports among other Pacific countries.