China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that it will launch a trade barrier investigation on Taiwan, while Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominated party chairman Lai Ching-teh (William Lai) as their 2024 presidential candidate. But independent observers have pointed out that the probe is politically motivated and that China’s ruling communist party (CCP) intends to interfere in the 2024 Taiwan election.
The Ministry of Commerce announced on April 12 that it will conduct investigations on trade barriers imposed by Taiwan on 2,455 Chinese products, ranging from agricultural products, textiles, coal, minerals, metals, plastics, rubber, chemicals, to construction materials. It said that the investigation will last for a maximum of nine months and is expected to end by Jan. 12, 2024 at the latest. Taiwan’s presidential election will happen on Jan. 13, 2024.
