Lin Cho-shui Slams Cross-Party Rivalry Over Carcinogenic Oil Scandal as 'Extremely Stupid'

The Zhonglian carcinogenic oil incident has escalated into a political storm between Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties. The Kuomintang (KMT) held a protest rally on Ketagalan Boulevard on the 25th, claiming over 200,000 attendees, though actual estimates range between 30,000 and 50,000. Former legislator Lin Cho-shui posted on Facebook on the 26th, stating that compared to past major food safety incidents, this case is 'relatively minor,' yet it has escalated into a life-or-death political battle. He lamented, 'After years of unresolved constitutional deadlock, the ruling and opposition parties are exhibiting an extremely stupid phenomenon.'

On the afternoon of the 25th, the KMT held a rally on Ketagalan Boulevard titled 'I Am Human, I Oppose Poisoning Taiwan,' demanding an apology from President Lai Qing-te and the resignation of Premier Cho Jung-tai. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) responded that it is the food producers who are covering up the safety issue, while the Taichung and Taipei city governments are shifting blame to the central government. The DPP accused Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an of deflecting administrative failures onto the central government, calling their political mobilization and street protests extremely irresponsible election tactics that deepen social division.

Lin Cho-shui emphasized that compared to past major food safety incidents, 'this is a relatively minor issue.' For example, China's permissible limit for benzo(a)pyrene is five times Taiwan's standard, while the U.S. and Japan do not set regulatory limits, merely requiring manufacturers to self-monitor—indicating a more relaxed approach.

Lin stated bluntly that this relatively minor issue has escalated into a life-or-death political battle, with calls to convene a national security meeting and pass national security legislation. 'This reveals that after years of unresolved constitutional deadlock, the ruling and opposition parties are exhibiting an extremely stupid phenomenon.'

In response, some netizens questioned, 'Is consuming carcinogenic oil every day really a minor issue?' Lin sarcastically replied, 'Although the U.S., Japan, and South Korea all take a relaxed approach, Tainan and Kaohsiung still conduct serious inspections. Yet Lu Hsiu-yen and Chiang Wan-an refuse to test. It seems they are the ones encouraging people to eat it—why blame me? Don’t you think your own logic is strange?'

Some KMT supporters retorted, 'Taiwanese refusing to eat toxic oil means opposing Taiwan independence.' Lin mocked in return, 'China’s standard is five times more lenient than Taiwan’s—apparently, spies from the U.S. and Japan who oppose unification have infiltrated China’s legislation at Zhongnanhai.'