Taipei, June 16 -- China has been reported to have used agricultural trade agreements announced during the recent Straits Forum to increase Taiwan's economic dependence on the mainland and create political leverage over Taiwanese producers, the Taiwan Times reported, citing an official.

At the Straits Forum in Xiamen, Chinese officials unveiled agreements to purchase agricultural and fishery products from several Taiwan counties governed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). The deals involve products such as atemoyas, pomeloes, tea and grouper from Taitung, Yunlin and Nantou counties. Taitung County Commissioner Yao Ching-ling participated in the event via video link after Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council barred her from attending in...