A Chinese mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday denounced Taiwan authorities led by Lai Ching-te for ignoring the heinous crimes committed by Japan during its colonial rule over Taiwan, describing their flattering remarks toward Japan as utterly disgraceful.
Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media inquiry about Lai's intention to work with Japan to "deal with regional challenges."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated its position on Japan's Lower House election. We demand the Japanese side fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, retract Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, handle Taiwan-related matters with caution, and uphold the one-China principle with concrete actions. The Lai Ching-te authorities disregard the heinous crimes committed by Japan during its colonial rule over Taiwan and instead use this chance to spread fallacy to please Japan. Their servile and obsequious behavior is truly disgraceful," she said.
Chinese mainland spokeswoman slams Lai Ching-te's remarks on Japan
Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.
According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.
The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.
The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.
FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.
If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.
These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.
Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO
