Resumption of Custard Apple Imports from Taiwan Stirs Reactions on Weibo
In an unexpected development that has caused a stir on Chinese social media, the General Administration of Customs of China has decided to resume the import of custard apples from Taiwan, after a suspension that began in September 2021. The suspension was initially imposed due to the detection of harmful quarantine pests such as Planococcus minor in imports of the fruit.
21 June 2023
On Weibo, a popular microblogging site in China, netizens have been sharing their thoughts on the recent development, leading to a varied mixture of sentiments, opinions, and debates. The announcement of the resumption was initially made by the official Weibo account of the People's Daily, the largest newspaper group in China, which has fueled a widespread discussion on the platform.
Some Weibo users have expressed their pleasure over the decision. User @相信历史的一修大叔 stated, "Thank you, mainland China," alongside multiple heart and thumbs-up emojis, indicating gratitude and approval.
However, not all comments have been positive. For instance, @堯偂澍 expressed cynicism towards political machinations, implying that politicians could use the advantages of this policy for their own gains. Meanwhile, @马老拾 commented, "Seeing this news, my heart feels cold. Why can't we be tougher? I won't buy anything from Taiwan until it returns."
Another strand of conversation highlighted the potential political dimensions of the decision. User @2049年的世界 criticized Taiwanese political parties for not supporting reunification with the mainland, implying that China's policy towards Taiwan should be formed from a higher perspective rather than stooping to the level of Taiwanese party politics.
The announcement also revived some discriminatory sentiments towards the Taiwanese. User @台湾蛙事儿 seemingly brought up the derogatory term 'frogs,' used by some mainland Chinese to refer to Taiwanese, implying that the resumption might not sit well with them.
One user, @环翠发布, used this opportunity to educate others about the custard apple, also known as Annona squamosa, a small deciduous tree native to the tropics. Despite this, @浅浅月冷冷萧 disagreed about the appeal of the fruit, claiming it was overly sweet and not to their liking.
This policy change has clearly reignited the public conversation about cross-strait relations and continues to fuel a variety of sentiments, debates, and even discriminatory remarks on Chinese social media. The situation is still unfolding and it remains to be seen how it will influence the overall sentiment towards Taiwan and its produce in the longer term.