Taiwan’s premier on Sunday accused China of violating international trade rules and “discriminating” against the island after Beijing announced new import bans.
According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Finance, Chinese customs authorities “suddenly suspended” imports of certain alcoholic beverages from the island on Friday.
The ministry said the measure is linked to a regulation imposed by Beijing on Jan. 1 that requires all exporters of food and alcoholic beverages to the mainland to be registered with Chinese customs.
The files of certain Taiwanese companies are still under study.
Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang has accused Beijing of breaking World Trade Organization (WTO) rules by “decreing its own rules” and “interfering in trade through administrative means”.
China “is particularly harsh on Taiwan and discriminates against it in particular… It has asked Taiwan to do this and do that,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Taipei intends to appeal to the WTO and help the affected companies, he added.
The 23 million inhabitants of Taiwan live under the constant threat of an invasion from Beijing, which considers the island as one of its provinces to be reconquered one day, and if necessary by force.
Beijing has intensified military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taipei since the 2016 election of Ms. Tsai as president and has already banned imports of Taiwanese products.
China notably imposed a ban on certain fruits and fish from the island in retaliation for the visit in August of the speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which drew the ire of Beijing.
In 2021, imports of pineapples were halted after Chinese authorities said they discovered the presence of scale insects in shipments, as the annual harvest was in full swing.
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, citing Chinese customs, 11 of the 28 beer brands registered by Taiwanese exporters have been suspended from Friday.
Among the companies affected are state-owned Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corp.
Shipments of 123 out of 354 other beverages were also suspended, including those from Taiwanese food giant Uni-President Enterprises, the statement said.