Taiwan's DPP threatens to investigate Taitung County magistrate for promoting local agricultural products at Cross-Strait Forum

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has threatened to investigate Taitung County Magistrate Jao Ching-ling after she promoted local agricultural products via video at the 18th Cross-Strait Forum held in Fujian province. Jao delivered a video address promoting Taitung pineapple and custard apple products during a policy cooperation signing ceremony on June 13 in Xiamen, where ten measures to promote cross-strait exchange were formally adopted.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office (MAC) spokesperson Chen Binhua criticized the DPP's stance on June 17, arguing that the party's threat to investigate Jao contradicts the interests of Taiwan's farmers and fishermen. Chen questioned the legitimacy of the DPP's position, pointing out that the agricultural cooperation measures would create easier market access for Taiwan's agricultural products to mainland China, thereby benefiting farmers across southern Taiwan including Taitung, Yunlin, and Nantou counties. Chen characterized the DPP's approach as "green terror" and questioned whether the party intended to oppose its own people's livelihoods.

The DPP's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated it would refer the matter to Taiwan's interior ministry for investigation under the Cross-Strait Relations Regulations. However, opposition figures from the Chinese Unification Promotion Party (KMT) challenged the DPP's double standards, noting that prominent DPP figures including former Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te, former Pingtung County Magistrate Pan Men-an, and former Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu had previously traveled to mainland China for city exchanges and business cooperation without facing similar threats.

KMT spokesperson Yang Chih-yu characterized the investigation threat as inconsistent with the DPP's own past conduct and emphasized that Jao was simply fulfilling her duty as magistrate by helping local farmers access new markets. Yang questioned whether promoting agricultural products posed any genuine security threat, and highlighted that the issue represented a fundamental question about whether elected officials prioritize their constituents' economic welfare. The debate underscores growing tension over mainland China's economic incentives aimed at Taiwan's local governments and the DPP's restrictions on cross-strait engagement.