China imposes Trade Ban on Taiwan

Beijing, 3 August 2022 (TDI): China has provisionally banned shipments of natural sand to Taiwan and barred trade from scores of Taiwanese food companies as the first financial retaliation for a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The controversial visit of Nancy Pelosi deteriorated the economic strain by banning more than 100 Taiwanese wares.

Hua Chunying, China’s spokesperson, called Pelosi’s visit, a “major political provocation” despite President Xi Jinping’s 2 hours and 17 minutes call last week with President Joe Biden, warning against ‘playing with fire.’

Since Speaker Pelosi is the incumbent leader of the U.S. Congress, her visit to and activities in Taiwan, in whatever form and for whatever reason, is a major political provocation to upgrade U.S. official exchanges with Taiwan.

— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) August 2, 2022

Sand exports, a vital component of the semi-conductor industry, as well as shipments of certain fish and citrus fruit, are barred from Taiwan, as per Chinese Commerce and Customs Authorities on Wednesday.

The export of natural sand to the #Taiwan region will be suspended starting Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said.https://t.co/1Sb1slHirp pic.twitter.com/1s3BW1EsNb

— China SCIO (@chinascio) August 3, 2022

China’s Customs Bureau announced the trade sanctions. Furthermore, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office proclaimed that it will outlaw people and firms from the interior from doing monetary transactions with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.

China had severely implied that if the US Speaker visited Taiwan they would take to strong countermeasures. The Chinese Americans had started protesting against it since the day Nancy Pelosi’s Indo-Pacific trip started.

Read also: China’s Statement on Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan

China knew that their warnings were not considered when four US warships were deployed on the east side of Taiwan. Finally, the speculations turned true when US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plane landed in Taiwan.

China responded with war alarms being activated around many parts of China and some jetplanes of China entered Taiwan’s airspace.

However, these warnings took a significant turn when it was reported that Chinese military drills were now taking place 12 nautical miles from the Taiwanese mainland. It is now reported that US Speaker Nancy Pelosi has now departed from Taiwan.