Taipei, May 1: Taiwan has made serious accusations against China, claiming that Beijing is attempting to evade import restrictions by sending vegetables through Vietnam. The Taiwanese government has termed this process as “origin washing,” a scheme to conceal the true source of the products, and has announced strict actions against it.
Taiwan has imposed a ban on over 1,000 agricultural and fishery products from China. According to officials, China is circumventing these restrictions by first sending vegetables like napa cabbage and shiitake mushrooms to Vietnam. There, they are repackaged and labeled as Vietnamese products before being shipped to Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-Jih stated in parliament that the ministry is taking stringent measures to prevent this “source fraud.” Strict penalties will be imposed on violators.
He also mentioned that the ministry will conduct aerial surveys in Vietnam to determine the actual yield from specific areas. If the volume of exports to Taiwan exceeds the assessed capacity, a mechanism for action will be established.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) MP Chiu Yi-Ying alleged that fake Vietnamese origin certificates can be purchased for about 13,000 New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 410 US Dollars). This allows importers to profit between 200,000 to 500,000 New Taiwan Dollars per container. She urged the government to conduct third-party isotope testing to ascertain the true origin of the products.
It is noteworthy that China considers Taiwan as part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force for “reunification.” In recent years, China has increased military, political, and economic pressure on Taiwan.
In 2021, China banned the import of Taiwanese pineapples citing pest control concerns, which Taiwan labeled as a political move. In 2024, Taiwan accused China of violating World Trade Organization rules when Beijing imposed bans on several Taiwanese fruits, vegetables, and seafood products.
Taiwan described this as “economic pressure,” stating that it adversely affects farmers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Conversely, China accused Taiwan of violating the 2010 free trade agreement.
My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
