Taiwan's DPP slammed for threatening to punish farmers, fishermen over cross-Strait deals

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' threats to punish local agricultural and fishery groups over deals signed with the mainland at a recent cross-Strait forum were criticized Wednesday as "arbitrary and overbearing" by a Chinese mainland spokesperson.

Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to an announcement by a Taiwan official asking the island's agricultural authorities to investigate and penalize five groups from Hualien and other areas.

"The Chinese mainland has always been an important market for Taiwan's agricultural products," Zhang said. "We have rolled out a series of measures to help Taiwan farmers and fishermen expand their presence in the mainland market."

Zhang stressed that the mainland's efforts to find new outlets, boost sales, and secure returns for Taiwan's agricultural and fishery products have been widely welcomed by Taiwan people.

The DPP authorities' attempt to block such exchanges and penalize those involved has sparked strong indignation among Taiwan's agricultural and fishery sectors and drawn widespread public criticism on the island, according to Zhang.

"Their move is arbitrary and overbearing and will be condemned by all," the spokesperson said.