China Threatens Additional Trade Sanctions if Taiwan Maintains Independence Ahead of Presidential Election

Ahead of the Taiwan presidential election, China pressured by stating it would impose additional trade sanctions following the suspension of tariff reductions on certain Taiwan-made products.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th (local time), Chen Bin-hua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, referred to the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed in 2010 during a regular briefing, saying, "This is implemented on the political basis of the '1992 Consensus' (an agreement in 1992 to acknowledge 'One China' while each side uses its own name)."

According to the ECFA signed in 2010, China and Taiwan designated 267 Taiwan-made and 539 China-made products as 'early liberalization' items starting from January 2013, applying tariff-free benefits.

Spokesperson Chen said, "The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' insistence on Taiwan independence and refusal to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus undermines the political foundation of cross-strait negotiations and is the fundamental cause making the resolution of ECFA issues difficult."

He added, "If the DPP authorities persist in their stance on Taiwan independence and refuse to change their thinking, we support the relevant departments taking additional measures according to regulations."

Earlier, on the 20th, the Tariff Commission of the State Council of China announced that it would suspend tariff reductions under the ECFA on 12 Taiwan-made chemical products starting from the 1st of next month and impose rates according to current regulations. Taiwan criticizes this decision as politically motivated, aimed at the presidential election.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.