Amid persistent tensions over rumors that Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, planned to visit the island on Tuesday night, China has prohibited the import of more than 100 food and agricultural items from Taiwan.
The General Administration of Customs China published an updated list of Taiwanese businesses whose products will be instantly outlawed late on Monday, stating that they had broken “important regulations” without providing any further information.
This is China’s first outright response to reports that Pelosi may visit Taipei on Tuesday for an unusual and unannounced visit as part of her Asia tour. The visit has been extensively reported by the US and Taiwanese media.
Beijing has threatened severe consequences if the visit happens.
Vig Bakery, Jingdian Food, Guo Yuanyi Food, Weili Food, Weiquan Food, and Taishan Enterprises are among the businesses that have been blacklisted.
The island’s food, agricultural, and fishing businesses could be severely harmed by the action, according to local Taiwanese media sites.
Businesses were already suffering from China’s import restriction on pineapple and other commodities last year, which was justified by the threat of communicable illnesses.
The possibility of Beijing placing new restrictions on Taiwan as a response to the US politician’s visit has been warned by experts.
Pelosi had previously announced a trip to Taiwan in April but changed her mind after discovering she had Covid-19.
In recent months, Taipei has welcomed several congressional delegations.
The Kuomintang nationalists evacuated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the civil war against the communists, and as a result, China views Taiwan as a province that broke away.
Although there are no formal diplomatic relations between the US and the island, this has been the main point of friction between Beijing and Washington because the US is Taiwan’s largest military ally and the island’s main source of weapons.
The frequency of Chinese aircraft purportedly violating Taiwan’s air defense identification zone has caused tensions to increase across the Taiwan Strait in recent months.
Beijing deemed it a “provocation” that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen acknowledged the US has soldiers stationed on the island.
Beijing has publicly denounced the recent transit of US destroyers through the Taiwan Strait.
Measures by China
As Pelosi’s visit is a major threat to the Chinese sovereignty, they are preparing themselves for this. They are trying to show themselves as more powerful. For this, they are deploying B 52 bombers on the borders and they are also taking other military personnel’s support.
As per sources, here is the position of three B 52 bombers.
Meanwhile now 3 B-52's are pinging over Taipei, Taiwan pic.twitter.com/oNzM6xMySP
— Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) August 2, 2022
Chinese soldiers are still assembling on the beaches of Xiamen City.
Chinese military continue to amass on Chinese beaches of Xiamen City. pic.twitter.com/yCzp73fr6P
— Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) August 2, 2022
In an unidentified area in Eastern China, a laser-guided missile was seen moving.
Laser Guided missile spotted on the move at an unknown location in Eastern China. pic.twitter.com/5ZRn6nrre8
— Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) August 2, 2022
However, a picture of what appears to be a PLA supply convoy carrying “Deep Penetration Guided bombs” is circulating on PRC’s Weibo in an “unknown” area, leading mainland Chinese internet users to question whether the incident in Fujian is connected to the picture or not.
On PRC's Weibo, a photo of a reportedly PLA supply convoy carrying "Deep Penetration Guided bombs" circulates, however, in an "unknown" location, causing Mainland Chinese netizens to debate whether it is related to the events in Fujian or not. pic.twitter.com/AX0FuDt8Mg
— Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) August 2, 2022
