Screenshot of pineapple cakes from Taiwan island sold on a mainland e-commerce platform

A US correspondent sparked a wave of mockery and criticism online after posting a picture with a box of pineapple cakes on X and claiming that the Taiwan regional pastries are "banned" by Chinese mainland authorities. Many on the social media platform quickly pointed out that the cakes are readily available on major e-commerce platforms across the mainland and criticized her for hypocritical political posturing.

Natalie Winters, who describes herself on X as a co-host of "War Room" program and "White House correspondent," posted the photo and claimed that the Taiwan pineapple cakes are "so good" that the mainland banned them and "Beijing's lawfare only makes them taste better."

According to Taiwan media reports, Winters recently interviewed deputy Taiwan regional leader Hsiao Bi-khim in Taipei and Hsiao brought pineapple cakes and cream puffs as gifts for Winters. 

After Winters shared the photo online, Hsiao replied to the post, saying, "That's why some people here call them 'Freedom Pineapples.'"

In February 2021, the Chinese mainland announced that, beginning March 1, mainland customs would suspend imports of pineapples from Taiwan after repeatedly detecting quarantine pests in shipments since 2020, according to a notice published by the General Administration of Customs (GAC). Ma Xiaoguang, the then spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference the suspension was a standard biosafety precaution—scientific, reasonable, and fully in line with the mainland's relevant laws and regulations.

Winters' post and her exchanges with Hsiao on X were covered by several Taiwan media outlets. Some netizens pointed out that it was the import of fresh pineapples - not pineapple cakes - that the mainland had suspended, and Winters' post was false. while others questioned how much Hsiao might have spent the money of the Taiwan people to stage such a "stupid performance."

Following Winters' post, some users also shared screenshots showing pineapple cakes from Taiwan being sold openly on major e-commerce platforms across the Chinese mainland. Others criticized Taiwan authorities and the political narratives behind the claim.

One user remarked, "Does the pineapple itself know it is 'free pineapple'?" adding that the so-called "freedom" touted by Taiwan politicians is merely a slogan used to deceive the public into footing the bill for their political agenda.

A netizen with the X handle "Sunfuhao" blasted Hsiao as "a die-hard separatist" who has brought harm to the island and its residents. Another netizen mocked the US for treating Taiwan as a "cash machine" through arms sales, asking sarcastically, "How many pineapple cakes per gun you sold them?"

Another X user also pointed out that calling Taiwan pineapples "'Freedom Pineapples' is peak hypnotical virtue-signaling - turning economic hardship into a political prop."