China and Taiwan face off in pineapple war

Taiwan is viewed by the Chinese government as a breakaway province that will reintegrate into China in the future.

Many Taiwanese people believe that they already have their own country, regardless of whether or not independence is recognised.

The dispute with China has strained relations, and a violent escalation is always a possibility. A recent example of such a dispute revolves around a rather peculiar subject, pineapples. 

What is the pineapple war?

At first glance, "pineapple war" might seem like a fun event or story but for China and Taiwan, it is a matter of domination and freedom. 

It all started when China banned the import of Taiwanese pineapples last month, citing the risk of "harmful creatures" affecting its own crops, reports the BBC.

Taiwan's leaders were enraged by the move, which they claimed had nothing to do with insects and was instead an example of China increasing political pressure on the island as China has been accused of using ambiguous and opaque trade policies to punish its competitors in recent months.

President Tsai Ing-wen flatly refuted China's claims, urging that 99.97% of imported pineapple batches have passed inspection.

The Taiwanese Council of Agriculture said that the island produces 420,000 tonnes of pineapple per year and exported just over 10% of that last year, almost entirely to China, Taiwan's largest trade partner.

Without mainland sales, Taiwanese farmers risk a pineapple glut, which could lead to lower prices, the BBC continues.

However, the island, instead of being fazed by Beijing's boycott, has been highlighting the potential by fighting back against China's weaponised economic clout.

Freedom pineapples

China's decision to ban imports of Taiwanese pineapples prompted the Taiwanese government to launch a chirpy public campaign for the "freedom pineapple" which has gone viral. 

Taiwanese leaders, from President Tsai Ing-wen on down, are urging people to defy China by eating more of the fruit.

"Taiwanese pineapples are stronger than fighter jets. Geopolitical pressures cannot squeeze their deliciousness," declared Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te, in a tweet, reports the BBC.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also took to Twitter to "urge like-minded friends around the world to stand with #Taiwan & rally behind the #FreedomPineapple," as he put it.

Support for the movement poured in as the de facto United States and Canadian embassies in Taiwan were delighted to help, along with the American Institute in Taiwan and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. 

With orders for 5,000 tonnes coming from Japan, Ms Tsai believes that Japanese customers may have made the greatest difference. Many Twitter users in Japan have also voiced their support.

The Taiwanese government's campaign resulted in enough orders to cover the pineapples that would have been exported to China in just a few days.

The remaining 90% of pineapples are normally sold domestically, so farmers hope that customers do not get sick of the flavour, reports the BBC.