Green Party: Cross-Strait Forum Is a United Front Platform; China Uses Agriculture to Lure, Trap, and Pressure Taiwan

Central News Agency Report

(Taipei, June 17 — Reporters Wang Yang-yu and Yeh Su-ping) Taitung County Magistrate Rao Qing-ling's participation in the Cross-Strait Forum via a pre-recorded video has sparked public debate. Fan Yun, Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislative Caucus, stated today that while county and city leaders' efforts to benefit farmers and fishermen are well-intentioned, the Chinese Communist Party uses agriculture as political leverage. The Cross-Strait Forum has been proven to be a united front platform and is not an appropriate venue for selling fruits, tea, or negotiating agricultural and fishery products. Ultimately, it is the farmers and fishermen who suffer.

The DPP released a press statement noting that Taitung County Magistrate Rao recently participated in China's 'Cross-Strait Forum' via video to promote agricultural products. Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen and Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan voiced support, with Lu even stating that 'President Lai should be grateful.'

DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng emphasized that the Cross-Strait Forum is a clear united front platform for China's influence operations toward Taiwan. China has repeatedly imposed surprise bans on Taiwanese agricultural products in recent years. He urged county and city leaders from the Blue Camp not to fall into China's united front tactics, which ultimately harm Taiwan's agriculture.

Meanwhile, Fan Yun, Secretary-General of the DPP Legislative Caucus, and Deputy Secretary-General Huang Jie held a press conference today to respond to public sentiment. Fan stated that while local leaders' intentions to help farmers and fishermen are commendable, the DPP caucus must remind everyone that the Cross-Strait Forum has already been proven to be a united front platform — not a suitable place to sell fruits, tea, or negotiate agricultural and fishery products.

Fan added that the Chinese Communist Party has weaponized agricultural and fishery products. When political conditions change, Beijing immediately revokes its previous purchase commitments, leaving farmers and fishermen ultimately damaged. The government has consistently advocated for diversifying markets to protect agricultural communities, as China uses agriculture to pressure Taiwan politically. (Edited by Lin Shu-yuan) 1150617

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