China won’t allow pineapple shipments

China surprised Taiwan with a move to block pineapple imports, stepping up economic pressure on President Tsai Ingwen’s administration as it continues to spar with Beijing.

China will suspend imports of Taiwanese pineapples starting Monday after finding pests in recent shipments, China’s General Administration of Customs said in a statement Friday. This move was a normal precaution to protect biosecurity and to prevent the importation of plant diseases, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said separately.

The move took Taiwan officials by surprise, Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-Chung told reporters in Taipei on Friday.