KMT Official: Lai Ching-te Should Apply Same Food Safety Standards to His Government as Opposition Demanded of Ma Ying-jeou

Kuomintang (KMT) Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Chen Yi-hsin on July 8 urged President Lai Ching-te to hold his administration to the same food safety standards that the opposition demanded of the previous Ma Ying-jeou government. The call comes amid public concern over cooking oil from Zhonglian Grease being released into the market. Chen stated that food safety should transcend political divides and that double standards are unacceptable. He demanded that Lai apologize to the nation and that Premier Cho Jung-tai and relevant ministers step down. Chen recalled the 2014 Wei Chuan cooking oil scandal, where Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) figures, including then-Tainan Mayor Lai, vehemently criticized the government. He cited DPP legislator Tsai Chi-chang's call for then-Premier Jiang Yi-huah's resignation and then-DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen's demand for clarity on alleged concealment. Chen also quoted then-DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang, who said, "Incompetence is the greatest shame of those in power." He questioned whether Lai, as president, still remembers his past calls for investigations and accountability. Chen accused the current administration of failing to promptly inform the public about abnormal inspection results, allowing the contaminated products to reach consumers. He reiterated the demand for Lai's apology and the resignations of Cho, Health and Welfare Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan, and Food and Drug Administration Director-General Wu Show-mei.

“

Food safety has no blue or green, and there cannot be double standards.