TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP legislative caucus on Monday questioned recent claims surrounding atemoya exports to China, suggesting the discussion was misleading because the fruit’s harvest season ended in April.
Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) recently participated in the Straits Forum by video, expressing gratitude to China for importing Taiwanese atemoyas, per ETtoday. Her participation came despite a central government ban on local officials attending the event.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) previously said atemoyas have a limited domestic market and that about 90% of production has traditionally been exported to China. He suggested the industry’s viability largely depended on China’s goodwill.
The DPP caucus acknowledged that Liang’s remarks may have upset some growers but said dependence on any single market, particularly China, increases risks for the industry. Lawmakers added that because the atemoya harvest season ended in April, Rao’s participation in the forum would not result in additional fruit exports this year.
The caucus also said some Taitung farmers have questioned why atemoya exports are being highlighted now, given that the harvest season has already passed.
Liang clarified his remarks on Saturday, saying the core issue is reliance on what he described as a “political trap” market, per Mirror Media. He added that the atemoya industry could follow the example of dragon fruit growers by expanding domestic consumption.
Executive Yuan Central Taiwan Joint Services Center Deputy Executive Officer Wu Yin-ning (吳音寧) weighed in on Sunday, saying domestic atemoya consumption has increased under DPP governance, per Tai Sounds. She noted that domestic consumption first surpassed exports in 2022 and said China’s new import taxes on atemoyas in 2024 have made the market less attractive for Taiwanese farmers.
DPP Taitung County magistrate candidate Chen Ying (陳瑩) echoed those concerns, saying Taiwanese exporters will face tougher competition as China’s domestic production improves, per UDN. She said farmers will continue to face uncertainty and risks as long as the industry remains overly dependent on the Chinese market.
