Chung Lien Oil Case: KMT Demands Presidential Apology, DPP Cites Food Safety Above Politics

(Central News Agency, Taipei, July 8) The Chung Lien oil case has escalated, affecting as many as 360 businesses. Kuomintang Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Chen Yi-hsin stated today that in 2014, when the Ting Hsin oil scandal erupted, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) demanded certain actions from the Ma administration, and should now hold themselves to the same standard. He called for President Lai Ching-te to apologize to the public for the food safety crisis and for Premier Cho Jung-tai and relevant ministry officials to resign.

The DPP responded that President Lai had recently emphasized there is no room for compromise on food safety issues and that accountability will be pursued. The immediate priority is to ensure the public can purchase safe food, and food safety transcends party lines. The party also urged opposition parties not to use food safety for political attacks, as it does not help resolve the problem.

Chen Yi-hsin issued a press release stating that food safety knows no blue or green (referring to KMT and DPP) and cannot have double standards. He argued that President Lai and the DPP's demands on the Ma administration during the Ting Hsin oil incident should be applied to the current Lai administration with the same standard. He recalled that then-Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te not only advocated a "three noes" principle of "do not buy, do not use, do not eat" but also demanded then-President Ma Ying-jeou convene a national security meeting and called for investigations, punishments, and referrals to be carried out.

Chen Yi-hsin questioned whether President Lai, now the head of state, remembers the stance taken by Mayor Lai back then. He stated that the public is watching to see if President Lai will follow through on the food safety demands he made of the central government when he was mayor.

Chen Yi-hsin added that in the current Chung Lien oil case, the responsible authorities had already obtained information about abnormal test results but failed to fully inform the public immediately, allowing the products to continue to enter the market and causing public concern. He asked if the Lai administration has provided a complete account of the information disclosure timeline, the tracing of product flow, and administrative responsibility. He reiterated that President Lai should apologize to the public for the food safety crisis, and Premier Cho Jung-tai, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan, and Food and Drug Administration Director-General Wu Shou-mei should resign. (Edited by Wan Shu-chang) 1150708

Stand with the facts. Your every donation is a force to protect press freedom.

Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates.

The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.