Taipei Mayor's Anti-Toxic Oil Protest Sparks Rally Accusations

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced a protest against "toxic oil" for July 25, rallying citizens with the slogan "They're forcing me to eat toxic oil, forcing me to the streets." The announcement came amid a worsening food safety scandal involving carcinogenic oil from Chung Lien Oil.

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They're forcing me to eat toxic oil, forcing me to the streets.

However, the timing and slogan of the protest have drawn criticism. Media personality Chiu Ming-yu pointed out that July 25 is also the date of the Kuomintang's (KMT) National Congress. She suggested the protest is a thinly veiled political rally, designed to bring together KMT party representatives and all mayoral candidates nominated that day. Political commentator Chang Yi-shan questioned the timing, asking, "Just say it's for election campaigning, why bring up food safety?"

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The timing is clearly for a rally.

KMT Chairwoman Chen Chih-chen announced the "Anti-Toxic Oil" march details, confirming the July 25 date due to the National Congress. When questioned if the party leadership planned this before Chiang's initiative, she stated there was a shared idea and direction, and while the timing was tight, it was very suitable.

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Just say it's for election campaigning, why bring up food safety?

Chiu Ming-yu further questioned the protest's messaging, noting Chiang's slogan differs from Chen Chih-chen's "I am human, I oppose toxic Taiwan." Chiu wondered if there were two separate events and urged the KMT to clarify the official name. Chang Yi-shan sarcastically commented that Chiang was "stealing the spotlight" from the party central committee's planned rally and accused the mayor of "dumping responsibility" for local government issues onto Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen.

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I am human, I oppose toxic Taiwan.