Lin Ting-yao Column: Lai Qingde's Nonsense Turns Taisugar into an Animal Farm

"XXX has done a heap of nonsensical things... Instead of spending big money promoting your achievements, you should focus on appointing competent people!" This is not a recent remark by a political commentator criticizing President Lai Qingde's administration. It was the exact statement made by Lai Qingde, then a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator, when he fiercely condemned the KMT government over reports that SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu had appointed his nephew to Taisugar.

The Date of Return Unknown: Insisting on 'No Reporting Obligation'

Back then, legislator Lai launched fierce attacks with a sense of moral righteousness, demanding that any political connection in state-owned enterprise appointments be scrutinized under a magnifying glass by the public. More than a decade later, pulling out that same measuring stick now makes Lai Qingde himself the most awkward figure. The fiery criticism once hurled by 'Legislator Lai' has now completely splattered 'President Lai' in the face!

Taisugar, a state-owned enterprise, detected benzopyrene levels seven times above the safety limit in crude oil at its Zhonglian plant as early as May this year, yet quietly returned the goods and concealed the findings, allowing the tainted oil to continue flowing into the market. Faced with allegations of a cover-up, Premier Cho Jung-tai casually stated, "We reported when we were supposed to." Health Minister Shih Chou-yang defended, "There was no legal obligation to report." The Ministry of Economic Affairs even praised Taisugar as a "well-behaved child conducting high-standard self-inspections," while Minister Kung Ming-hsin defended, "Taisugar was merely a buyer."

Indeed, a double-standard party: when in opposition, demanding high standards and social responsibility from state enterprises; when in power, adopting only the lowest standards, reducing Taisugar back to just another private company. When did the food safety standards for state-run institutions drop to merely "not illegal"?

Taisugar Chairman Wu Ming-chang was the executive director of the Pingtung Lai's Friends Association, personally endorsed by Lai Qingde during his presidential campaign. (Photo by Yen Lin-yu)

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The Food Safety Autonomy Ordinance promoted by Lai Qingde during his tenure as Tainan mayor clearly stipulated that food businesses must proactively report within 48 hours if upstream suppliers pose a threat to consumer life, body, or health. The principle was simple: food safety should not wait until bodies surface before throwing lifebuoys, but sound the alarm at the first sign of abnormality. Now, with the DPP in power at the central level, they demand only the minimum standard and brazenly ask: Who is the supplier? Was the goods delivered? Was the obligation established? What exact word does the law state...?

Under public pressure, Taisugar decided to take legal action—not against Zhonglian Oils, but by seeking compensation from Formosa Plastics, estimating losses at over NT$243 million. But regardless of whether this money is recovered, it is public assets that are being lost. Concealment by private companies is paid for by shareholders; concealment by state-owned enterprises is paid for by taxpayers—and taxpayers have no exit option.

State-owned enterprises should be held to higher disclosure standards. The core principle of the OECD's Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises is that transparency requirements for SOEs should exceed those of listed companies, precisely because the owners are all citizens. Taiwan's current state enterprise management still centers on the State-Owned Enterprises Management Act, falling far short of this standard in information disclosure.

This is the difference between state-owned and private companies. As Professor Chan Chang-chuan of National Taiwan University's School of Public Health pointed out, "When a state-owned enterprise first detects a major food safety risk, it should take more proactive measures than private firms, enabling the government to trace pollution sources and distribution routes early." This is not just a legal issue, but one of public governance and government integrity.

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Lai Qingde appointed Wu Ming-chang as Taisugar's chairman. Wu was the executive director of the Pingtung Lai's Friends Association, personally endorsed by Lai during his presidential campaign. Wu, possessing food safety expertise, why did he not exercise higher risk judgment upon detecting超标 signals—precisely because he understood the risks, his decision to quietly settle the matter makes it even more infuriating!

From Taisugar and Taifertilizer to state-invested financial institutions, political appointments are flourishing everywhere. Lai Qingde's power conveyor belt grows longer: former Council of Agriculture chair Lin Tsung-hsien became chairman of an asset management company under兆豐金, Liu Ying Agricultural Association's general manager Chen Yu-hsin became Taifertilizer's general manager... Unfair power distribution, factional appointments of cronies and 'green friends,' have turned state-owned and state-invested institutions into arenas for privileged class plunder.

From carcinogenic oil, fenpropathrin-contaminated apples, US beef offal/mince, sprouted potatoes, to controversies over Taiwan-US ART food liberalization, legislator Lai once questioned: "How can the government be completely unaware of food distribution flows?" "How can import policies concerning national health bypass the legislature?" Examining the current Lai Qingde administration's performance, which of these same standards—source management, information transparency, risk prevention, legislative oversight—has been met?

Wu Nai-jen, a senior figure in the DPP's New Tide faction, was accused of breach of trust during his tenure as Taisugar chairman. President Lai Qingde once staked his political life to defend him. (Photo by Wu Yi-hua)

Yet When Bashan Rains at Night: Does Legislator Lai Criticize President Lai?

In November 2008, it was reported that Taisugar Chairman Wu Jung-ming resigned in protest after SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu attempted to promote his nephew, then Taisugar vice president Chen Ching-pin, to general manager. Then-legislator Lai Qingde criticized Ma Ying-jeou's government, stating that political interference in high-level appointments at state-owned enterprises amounted to "using public resources for private gain" and "political patronage."

The Liberty Times reported in November 2008 that then-DPP legislator Lai Qingde said: "The KMT has done a heap of nonsensical things. Now Koo Chen-fu wants to force his nephew into Taisugar, angering Wu Jung-ming to the point of resignation. While serving as vice chairman, Koo continuously helped his son do business in China. Now as SEF chairman, of course he will help his own people. Lai sarcastically added that the KMT should spend less on promoting achievements and focus more on appointing competent people."

Lai Qingde criticized Koo for pushing his nephew into Taisugar, calling it "nonsense," and demanded merit-based appointments in state enterprises. Now, Taisugar's chairman has ties to the Lai's Friends Association, and the case involves Wu Nai-jen owing Taisugar NT$170 million and the withdrawal of compulsory execution petitions. So, does that same 'patronage' measuring stick still apply to their own people today?

Taisugar is not just a company; state-owned enterprises must have social responsibility. Wu Ming-chang is the king's man. The Lai administration is collectively guarding their own, even at the cost of the health of all Taiwan's people. Lai Qingde once staked his political life on defending Wu Nai-jen. Now, will he stake the health of Taiwan's people on defending Wu Ming-chang? Lai Qingde is doing all sorts of nonsense, making Taisugar appear to have "changed the world," but in reality, it's just another round of rewarding the powerful elite—no different from George Orwell's Animal Farm!

The "President Lai Qingde" will find it hardest to face not the opposition, but the "Legislator Lai Qingde" who once stood in the legislature, held extremely high standards, spoke harshly, and deeply detested political patronage in state-owned enterprises!