her own fame"

Taitung farmers say, it doesn't matter whether or not magistrate Rao Qing
Ling's video appearance at China's Straits Forum was legal...

as all the debate does is serve to elevate Rao's personal profile and has no
impact on the sugar apple market.

That's after Rao's video appearance promoting Taitung's sugar apples in the
Strait Forum incited controversy, prompting the Mainland Affairs Council to
turn the case over to the Ministry of the Interior for investigation.

But farmers say, Rao's appearance and any of the surrounding controversy hold
little significance when China continues to levy 29% tariffs on Taiwanese
agricultural products.

They add that the "noise" generated by Rao's participation has no effect on
the Taiwanese sugar apple market.

Meanwhile DPP candidate to succeed Rao, Chen Ying stated that she believed
farmers "should not be the victims of political maneuvering."

(AH)