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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Crime & Justice

KMT Slams Lai Ching-te for 'Covering Up' Oil Scandal, Demands Official Resignations

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) criticized President Lai Ching-te for his administration's handling of a food safety scandal involving edible oil.
  • KMT spokesperson Chen Yi-hsin accused the government of protecting officials and lacking transparency, contrasting it with the KMT's demands during a similar scandal 12 years ago.
  • Chen urged Lai to apologize and hold responsible officials accountable, warning that continued inaction would erode public trust.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) has sharply criticized President Lai Ching-te's administration over its response to a food safety scandal involving edible oil produced by Zhonglian Oil.

The Presidential Office's special report on the incident of lacking truth, apologies, and accountability.

— Chen Yi-hsinCriticizing the government's handling of the food safety scandal.

Chen Yi-hsin, the KMT's director of cultural communication, accused the Presidential Office's special report on the incident of lacking truth, apologies, and accountability. He argued that the report served only to defend the government and absolve officials of responsibility. Chen specifically called out President Lai, stating that he, not others, should be the one to apologize to the public.

Chen highlighted what he described as Lai's "inconsistent and double standards," recalling Lai's strong stance against the Ting Hsin oil scandal 12 years prior when he was Tainan mayor. At that time, Lai advocated for boycotts and demanded the resignation of government officials. The KMT now contrasts this with Lai's current government's handling of a similar major food safety crisis, which they claim has resulted in a report that "lacks truth, apologies, and accountability."

The biggest problem with President Lai is his inconsistency and double standards.

— Chen Yi-hsinComparing Lai's current stance to his actions during a previous oil scandal.

Furthermore, Chen criticized Lai's brief, 130-character Facebook response to the report, deeming it insufficient and lacking a sense of responsibility expected of a national leader. He also pointed out that Lai, as chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), failed to mention the ongoing food safety crisis during a party meeting, appearing indifferent to public concerns.

The central government should apologize to the public with a more humble attitude, and those who are not doing well should step down and take responsibility.

— Lu Shiow-yenQuoted by Chen Yi-hsin as an example of local government accountability.

Chen cited local leaders like Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, who have called for a more humble apology from the central government and for underperforming officials to step down. He warned that if Lai continues to shield negligent officials, public trust in the government will further erode. The KMT insists that the same high standards of political responsibility demanded 12 years ago should apply to Lai's current administration, urging him to apologize and dismiss responsible officials.

Food safety cannot be covered up, and it should not be put back on the shelves before the truth is revealed.

— Chiang Wan-anQuoted by Chen Yi-hsin regarding the food safety scandal.
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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