Lai Ching-te said "China will weaponize agricultural products", Taiwan Affairs Office responded.

On July 2, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council held a routine press conference. A journalist asked about Lai Qingde's recent statement that "China is weaponizing agricultural products, attempting to use agriculture to pressure the government, including by banning imports, raising tariffs. The proportion of Taiwan's agricultural products exported to China has decreased from 20.5% in 2015 to 11.5% in 2025; the United States and Japan have become the top two export markets for Taiwan's agricultural products". What is your comment on this? Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded, mainland China has always been an important export destination for Taiwan's agricultural products. We adhere to the concept of "one family on both sides of the strait," making every effort to help Taiwanese compatriots solve practical problems, do good deeds, and overcome difficulties, taking a series of measures to help Taiwan's farmers and fishermen expand the mainland market, find ways to market and increase income for Taiwan's agricultural products, allowing more and more Taiwanese farmers to enjoy the benefits of Chinese modernization and live better lives. She said that the DPP authorities not only have long unilaterally restricted the import of mainland agricultural products into Taiwan, including more than a thousand agricultural products, obstructing normal economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, threatening to punish county and city mayors who actively promote the import of Taiwan's agricultural products to the mainland and their respective agricultural and fishery associations, also kowtowing to the United States, selling out Taiwan's core industries, imposing "zero tariffs" on 4885 industrial products and 1482 agricultural products from the United States, seriously damaging the interests of relevant industries in Taiwan and the well-being of the people. She said that those who sincerely seek benefits for the people and those who arbitrarily block the people from benefiting have a clear account in the hearts of Taiwan's farmers and fishermen. Grassroots business owners in Taiwan are worried, as the DPP authorities not only fail to help the farmers and fishermen solve practical problems but also try to obstruct cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, hoping to win the favor of outsiders by sacrificing domestic industries and people's livelihoods, causing great anger. She advised the DPP authorities to stop political manipulation and do more things that are beneficial to the interests and well-being of the Taiwanese people.