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Entertainer Li Ming-yi slams government 'double standards' on food safety, sparks online debate

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Veteran entertainer Li Ming-yi publicly supported a protest against the government regarding food safety.
  • She criticized the government for "double standards" in handling public dissent.
  • However, her comments drew significant backlash online, with many netizens accusing her and local governments of shifting blame instead of taking responsibility.

Veteran entertainer Li Ming-yi has voiced strong support for a protest held in Taipei, criticizing the government's handling of a food safety scandal involving carcinogenic cooking oil. The rally, organized by the Kuomintang party, demanded President Lai Ching-te's apology and Premier Cho Jung-tai's resignation.

The people are not taking to the streets to seize power, but for basic livelihoods and food safety. You support what you like, calling it democracy; you oppose what you dislike, calling it illegal. This is not the rule of law, but double standards.

— Li Ming-yiExpressing her support for the protest and criticizing the government's alleged "double standards" on her Facebook page.

Li Ming-yi took to social media to accuse the government of "double standards," stating, "You support what you like, calling it democracy; you oppose what you dislike, calling it illegal. This is not the rule of law, but double standards." She further questioned the government's inaction, saying, "The government does not admit mistakes, does not apologize, does not act, yet demands the people shut up, accept, and forget. It's baffling."

The government does not admit mistakes, does not apologize, does not act, yet demands the people shut up, accept, and forget. It's baffling.

— Li Ming-yiFurther criticizing the government's response to the food safety scandal.

However, Li's statement did not receive universal support. Many netizens flooded her comments section, arguing that food safety is a shared responsibility between the central and local governments. They specifically pointed to the Taichung city government's alleged inadequate inspections, with one user sarcastically asking, "Taichung City Government, only testing once in 8 years, indeed should apologize!" Others questioned why the protest was focused on the central government when local authorities were also implicated.

Taichung City Government, only testing once in 8 years, indeed should apologize!

— NetizenResponding to Li Ming-yi's post, pointing blame at the local government.

The online debate intensified, with some users directly challenging Li's stance. "I believe you are definitely talking about the Taichung City Government," one comment read. Another user argued that instead of blaming, all parties should work together to find the source of the problem. Taipei City Councilor Chang Ssu-kang of the KMT also commented in support of the protest, but this too drew criticism, with some netizens stating, "You are you, you don't need to represent us."

You support what you like, calling it democracy; you oppose what you dislike, calling it illegal. This is not the rule of law, but double standards.

— Li Ming-yiCriticizing the government's alleged "double standards" on her Facebook page.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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