CHINA on Monday suspended imports of mangoes from the island of Taiwan after detecting harmful pests in the fruit that pose a serious threat to the mainland's agricultural production and biological security if allowed in, a mainland official said.

While the move followed recent similar steps taken by mainland authorities and came amid rising tension across the Taiwan Straits due to provocative, separatist actions by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, it is a technical decision that aims to protect biological security in line with relevant laws, regulations and norms, mainland officials and experts stressed. Still, for cross-Straits economic and trade ties to further grow, peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits are necessary, they added.