Freedom pineapples
{{Short description|Political response to Chinese import ban}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Freedom pineapples
| t = {{linktext|自由|鳳梨}}
| s = 自由凤梨
| p = Zìyóu fènglí
| t2 = {{linktext|自由|菠蘿}}
| s2 = 自由菠萝
| p2 = Zìyóu bōluó
| w = {{Tone superscript|Tzu4-yu2 feng4-li2}}
| bpmf = ㄗˋㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄥˋㄌㄧˊ
| tp = Zìh-yóu fòng-lí
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|z|i|4|.|i|ou|2|-|f|eng|4|.|l|i|2}}
| j = zi6 jau4 fung6 lei4
| y = Jih-yàuh fuhng-lèih
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|z|i|6|-|j|au|4|-|f|ung|6|-|l|ei|4}}
| tp2 = Zìh-yóu bo-luó
| w2 = {{Tone superscript|Tzu4-yu2 Po1-lo2}}
| bpmf2 = ㄗˋㄧㄡˊ ㄅㄛㄌㄨㄛˊ
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|z|i|4|.|i|ou|2|-|b|o|1|.|l|uo|2}}
| j2 = zi6 jau4 bo1 lo4
| y2 = Jih-yàuh Bō-lòh
| ci2 = {{IPAc-yue|z|i|6|-|j|au|4|-|b|o|1|-|l|o|4}}
}}
Freedom pineapples ({{lang-zh|t=自由鳳梨|p=Zìyóu fènglí}}) was a political and social response in 2021 to a Chinese ban on the import of pineapples from Taiwan. It encouraged domestic and international consumption to replace the loss of the mainland Chinese market, which had formerly imported 97% of all Taiwanese pineapple exports.{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwangazette.org/news/2021/5/25/the-sugar-coated-poison-of-chinese-market-how-will-taiwanese-pineapples-fight-against-their-fate |title=The Sugar-Coated Poison of Chinese Market: How Will Taiwanese Pineapples Fight Against Their Fate? |publisher=Taiwangazette.org |date= |accessdate=2022-08-15}} It did not fully shield Taiwan from the economic consequences. In 2021, Taiwanese pineapple exports dropped to 55% of their 2019 levels.{{cite web|url=https://www.tridge.com/intelligences/pineapple/TW/export |title=Fresh Pineapple export company and exporters in Taiwan |publisher=Tridge |date= |accessdate=2022-08-15}}
Background
{{see also|Wolf warrior diplomacy}}
File:2021.02.28 副總統出席政府媒合加工業者採購國產鳳梨記者會 - 50988372191.jpg and Huang Wei-cher showing support for pineapple farmers in Tainan on 28 February 2021.]]
In March 2021, following months of threats, the Chinese government banned the import of pineapples from Taiwan, citing biosecurity concerns. PRC customs agents stated that they had found harmful pests in then-recent fruit shipments. At the time, over 90% of Taiwanese pineapple exports went to the mainland Chinese market.{{Cite news|date=2021-03-24|title=China ban sours Taiwan's 'freedom pineapple' harvest|work=The Australian|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/china-ban-sours-taiwans-freedom-pineapple-harvest/news-story/bc9ed23d4578c7c74d58d9b8429d864b|access-date=2021-11-26}}
The Chinese government's statement was questioned and denied by the Taiwanese government. In response to the ban, the Taiwanese government asked its citizens and diplomatic allies to increase their consumption of Taiwanese pineapples, and promised financial assistance to any farmers who saw losses as a result of the ban.{{cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=Helen |title=Taiwanese urged to eat 'freedom pineapples' after China import ban |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/02/taiwanese-urged-to-eat-freedom-pineapples-after-china-import-ban |website=The Guardian |date=2 March 2021 |access-date=3 March 2021}} The Freedom Pineapple campaign was launched by ROC Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Twitter.{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Ching-Tse |title=Taiwan minister launches 'Freedom Pineapple' campaign on Twitter |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4137925 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=27 February 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=3 March 2021}}
Response
As a result of the ban, Taiwanese pineapples became a political symbol both at home and in the region. The term “Freedom pineapples” was coined as a play on freedom fries.{{cite web |last1=Aspinwall |first1=Nick |title=Taiwan Promotes 'Freedom Pineapples' in Response to Chinese Import Ban |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/taiwan-promotes-freedom-pineapples-in-response-to-chinese-import-ban/ |website=thediplomat.com |access-date=12 March 2021}}
=Taiwan=
File:2021.02.28 總統訪視「大樹區鳳梨農友」 - 50988397032.jpg
As an initiative to support Taiwanese pineapple farmers, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen launched a social media campaign called "Eat Taiwan's pineapples until you burst," which encouraged citizens to increase their consumption of local pineapples. Restaurants went to great lengths to incorporate pineapple into dishes such as beef noodle soup.{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Huizhong |title=Taiwan bursts with creative pineapple dishes after China ban |url=https://apnews.com/article/world-news-chefs-tsai-ing-wen-china-taiwan-0a5c0486d068e13352096f04d56fdba2 |website=apnews.com |agency=Associated Press |access-date=12 March 2021}}
Since the import ban followed PRC Premier Li Keqiang's assurance that mainland China was seeking to promote peaceful relations with Taiwan, the mixed messaging soon inflamed Taiwanese public opinion against mainland China.{{cite web |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title='If they want peaceful exchanges, they shouldn't have banned our pineapples': Taiwanese sceptical about Chinese premier's 'olive branch' |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3125324/if-they-want-peaceful-exchanges-they-shouldnt-have-banned-our |website=www.scmp.com |date=14 March 2021 |publisher=South China Morning Post |access-date=14 March 2021}} The situation has resulted in a consolidation of Taiwanese identity across the political spectrum.{{cite web |last1=Hioe |first1=Brian |title=Freedom Pineapple campaign illustrates identity consolidation in response to chinese bullying |url=https://newbloommag.net/2021/03/03/freedom-pineapple-campaign/ |website=newbloommag.net |date=3 March 2021 |publisher=New Bloom Magazine |access-date=12 March 2021}} The main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) also encouraged people to eat more local pineapple.{{cite web |last1=Hsiao |first1=Sherry |title=KMT to push pineapple sales: Johnny Chiang |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/03/02/2003753094 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=13 March 2021}}
Taiwanese firms placed large additional orders for local pineapples.{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Ching-Tse |title=Major Taiwan corporations order 6,600 tons of local pineapples |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4138457 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=28 February 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=13 March 2021}} Taiwanese farmers have begun diverting non-pineapple exports from mainland China to other markets due to worries that their product could be next.
=Japan, Australia and USA=
File:Taiwan pineapples sold out despite being much more expensive, they are delicious though.jpg
The event received heavy coverage in Japan,{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Ching-Tse |title=Taiwanese pineapples getting extensive media coverage in Japan |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4147933 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=11 March 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=13 March 2021}} with supermarkets selling out of pineapples and large orders being placed.{{cite web |last1=Feng |first1=John |title=Taiwan and Allies Rally to Defy China's Economic Coercion on Pineapples |url=https://www.newsweek.com/taiwan-allies-rally-defy-chinas-economic-coercion-pineapples-1573124 |website=www.newsweek.com |date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Newsweek |access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cite web |title=Chinese ban on Taiwanese pineapples boosts sales in Japan |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210315/p2g/00m/0bu/027000c |website=mainichi.jp |publisher=The Mainichi |access-date=15 March 2021}} A foodie music group in Japan released a music video about the situation. Sales also increased in Hong Kong, which was not subject to the PRC's import ban.{{cite web |last1=Charlier |first1=Phillip |title=Japanese foodie music group releases song promoting Taiwan pineapples following China import ban |url=https://taiwanenglishnews.com/japanese-foodie-music-group-releases-song-promoting-taiwan-pineapples-following-china-import-ban/ |website=taiwanenglishnews.com |date=14 March 2021 |access-date=15 March 2021}} The freedom pineapple campaign has also received support in Australia, with parallels being drawn to Chinese tariff increases on Australian wine.{{cite web |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Eastern Taiwan county exports pineapple custard apples to Dubai instead of China |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4153146 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=17 March 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=17 March 2021}}{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Tania|last2=Hsu|first2=Jennis|title=Diplomatic sweetener: Will Taiwan's 'freedom pineapples' become popular in Australia?|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/diplomatic-sweetener-will-taiwan-s-freedom-pineapples-become-popular-in-australia|access-date=2021-11-26|website=SBS|language=en}}
The “Freedom Pineapples” initiative received support from the American Institute in Taiwan and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, the de facto embassies of allies such as Canada and the United States with the Canadians referencing the Canadian invention pineapple pizza.{{cite news |title=U.S., Canada hail Taiwan's 'freedom pineapples' after Chinese ban |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china-pineapple-idUSKCN2AU1DD |website=www.reuters.com |date=3 March 2021 |agency=Reuters |access-date=3 March 2021}}
In April 2021 former American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted a picture of himself eating dried Taiwanese pineapple while playing chess, using the hashtag #FreedomPineapple.{{cite web |last1=Tzu-ti |first1=Huang |title=Former US secretary of state likely to visit Taiwan this year |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4174656 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |date=12 April 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=12 April 2021}}
Aftermath
In 2021, Taiwanese pineapple exports decreased to 28 million metric tons, down to 55% of the 2019 peak of 51 million metric tons. Further blocks on Taiwanese fruit imports to mainland China followed. In 2023, mango imports were restricted following Chinese allegations that mealybugs had been found on imported fruit.{{cite web |title=China Stops Importing Taiwan's Mangoes, Blaming Pests Amid Political Tensions |url=https://time.com/6306720/china-taiwan-mangoes-fruit-diplomacy/ |website=Time |date=21 August 2023 |publisher=Time |access-date=21 August 2023}}
See also
References
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{{commons category}}
{{Cross-Strait relations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cross-strait relations