China's southwest extends power curbs as heatwave continues

Power rationing that forced factories in China’s southwest to shut down has been extended due to low water at hydroelectric dams.

State weather forecasters issued a heat "red alert" for the 11th consecutive day, as extreme weather continues to play havoc with power supplies and damage crops. (Reuters)

China's scorched southwestern regions have extended curbs on power consumption as they deal with dwindling hydropower output and surging household electricity demand during a long drought and heatwave. State weather forecasters issued a heat "red alert" for the 11th consecutive day on Monday, as extreme weather continues to play havoc with power supplies and damage crops.  They also raised the national drought alert to "orange" - the second-highest level.  The drought has already "severely affected" mid-season rice and summer corn in some southern regions, the ministry of agriculture said on Sunday.  The National Meteorological Center said as many as 62 weather stations, from Sichuan in the southwest to Fujian on the southeastern coast, recorded record temperatures. The situation could improve starting Wednesday as a cold front moves into China via Xinjiang. The region of Chongqing, which hit temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius late last week, announced that opening hours at more than 500 malls and other commercial venues would be shortened starting Monday to ease power demand. Two malls on the list contacted by Reuters news agency confirmed that they had received the government notice and would abide by the new opening hours. Two hotels on the list said they were still operating normally but were restricting air conditioner use. READ MORE: China issues national drought alert after weeks of extreme heat Further measures In neighbouring Sichuan province, a major hydropower generator, authorities also extended existing curbs on industrial power consumers until August 25, financial news service Caixin said on Sunday. Power generation in Sichuan is at just half the normal level. It cited firms in the battery industry as saying that industrial power users in the cities of Yibin and Suining had been told to remain closed until Thursday. A Sichuan-based pesticide producer, Lier Chemical Co Ltd , confirmed in a notice on Monday that output restrictions at two of its production bases in the province would continue until August 25th. Toyota Motor Corp gradually resumed operations at its Sichuan plant in China on Monday using a power generator after suspending operations last week, the company's spokesperson said.  Other regions have also sent 50 emergency power generating vehicles to Sichuan since last Thursday to help alleviate shortages.  Several plants in Sichuan and Chongqing, including those of top battery maker CATL and the electric vehicle giant BYD, have been only able to partially operate in recent weeks because of power shortages. READ MORE: Several dead, missing after flash floods in northwest China Source: Reuters

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China imposes fresh trade curbs on Taiwan amid tensions over Pelosi's visit

The moves are part of a "common pattern for Beijing", according to analysts, who fear more disruptions of agricultural and food trade can be expected in the coming days.

Nancy Pelosi has met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who presented the US House speaker with a civilian honour. (Reuters)

China has rolled out curbs on the import of fruit and fish from Taiwan, while halting shipments of sand to the island in the wake of a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China's Customs Administration said on Wednesday it would suspend some citrus fruit imports from Taiwan over alleged "repeated" detection of excessive pesticide residue, and the import of fish owing to positive coronavirus tests on packages.

In a separate notice, the Commerce Ministry added it would also "suspend the export of natural sand to Taiwan" from Wednesday, without providing details.

Natural sand is generally used for producing concrete and asphalt, and most of Taiwan's imported sand and gravel comes from China.

The moves are part of a "common pattern for Beijing", said Even Pay, an agriculture analyst at consultancy Trivium China.

More disruptions of agricultural and food trade can be expected in the coming days, she added.

"When diplomatic or trade tensions are running high, Chinese regulators typically take an extremely strict approach to compliance... looking for any issues that can be used to justify a trade ban," she said.

The trip by Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency and the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, has ignited a diplomatic firestorm.

READ MORE: US defends Pelosi's Taiwan visit as angry China warns of 'consequences' 

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Trade restrictions 

China is Taiwan's biggest trading partner and export market, with bilateral trade growing 26 percent on-year to $328 billion in 2021, official data shows.

It is not the first time Beijing has taken aim at the island's exports.

China banned pineapple imports in March 2021, citing the discovery of pests, in a move that was widely seen as politically driven.

Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, as she views the island as a de facto sovereign nation and not part of "one China".

On top of the latest bans, Taipei's Council of Agriculture said Tuesday that China had cited regulatory breaches in suspending the import of other Taiwanese goods, including fishery products, tea and honey.

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities also announced planned live-fire military drills encircling Taiwan, in a move Taipei's defence ministry said threatened key ports and urban areas.

At some points, the zone of Chinese operations will come within 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) of Taiwan's shoreline, according to coordinates shared by the People's Liberation Army.

READ MORE: Pelosi visits Taiwan brushing aside China, Russia warnings

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Source: TRTWorld and agencies

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