China recently held the Straits Forum, and five groups of agricultural-related personnel went to China to sign agricultural product order contracts. The Mainland Affairs Council asked the Ministry of Agriculture to find out the contents of the contract. Agriculture Minister Chen Junji said today (23rd) that he is absolutely happy to see Taiwan's agricultural products sold to other countries, including China. However, if the contents of the contract involve political issues such as cooperation with Chinese party, government, and military agencies, there is a risk of breaking the law.
The Straits Forum ended a few days ago, and five groups of agricultural-related personnel from my country went to China to sign contracts. These five groups included the "Taiwan Agricultural Products Joint Cooperation Marketing Cooperative", "Hiechun Aquatic Products", "Nantou County Farmers' Association", "Tianwei Agricultural Science and Technology" and "Hualien County Farmers' Association". They claimed to have signed a contract to export agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan to the other side. Qiu Chuizheng, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said that because the Straits Forum is a platform for united front against Taiwan, the Ministry of Agriculture should find out what is involved in the contract.
Chen Junji attended the press conference of "Wandering Bird 197 - Longitudinal Valley Land Art Season" today. When asked about the current investigation situation, he said that Taiwan's agricultural products can be exported and sold to markets such as China, and they are happy to see the results. However, if the content of the contract involves political issues, such as cooperation with the Chinese party, government, military and other institutions, it will not be approved without the consent of the Mainland Affairs Council, the competent authority of our country. Doing so would violate Article 33 of the "Cross-Strait People's Relations Ordinance." On June 18, the Ministry of Agriculture received a letter from the Mainland Affairs Council asking for information on the contents of the contract. It then sent a letter to these five groups, requesting these five groups to explain whether they have cooperated with Chinese political entities on the contents of the contract. However, it has not yet received a reply from these groups.
Chen Junji further pointed out that requiring relevant explanations is by no means an attempt to suppress farmers' livelihoods or any trade practices, but that if the contract involves cooperation with the Chinese party, government and military agencies, it may lead to subsequent risks. The ministry's position has always been to make the agricultural export market a stable, sustainable and predictable market. However, if the market has a specific purpose, it will be detrimental to the agricultural trade structure in the long run.
Taiwanese mangoes have been selling like hotcakes recently. They were sold out in the local Lady Supermarket within two days of being put on the shelves. They will soon be put on the shelves of British supermarkets, attracting businessmen from Germany and the Netherlands to negotiate. Taiwanese pineapples will also go to France to test the water temperature in the near future. Chen Junji said that the most important thing is export sales. It can control the access, and also ensure the quality of the fruit is stable at the production end, packaging, storage and transportation cold chain. He also said that this time exporting to Europe will enter the high-end channel first, hoping to enter the market of specific ethnic groups, maintain a certain price in addition to establishing a good image, and then return profits to Taiwanese farmers.
