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Toxic oil case sparks debate; Lu Shiow-yen's Facebook flooded with criticism

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen accused the central government of pressuring local authorities regarding a toxic oil case, claiming they were told not to investigate, reveal the source, or recall the product.
  • The Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Health and Welfare refuted her claims, stating investigations, tracking, and recalls did occur, and accused her of political manipulation.
  • Lu's Facebook post, supporting Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's protest, drew over 8,000 critical comments from netizens, many questioning her role as a city official and calling her the "toxic mom."

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen ignited a fierce online backlash after accusing the central government of repeatedly pressuring local authorities in a toxic oil scandal. She claimed on Facebook that the central government instructed local officials to "not investigate the factory, not disclose the source, and not recall the toxic oil."

don't investigate the factory, don't disclose the source, don't recall the toxic oil

โ€” Lu Shiow-yenAccusing the central government of pressuring local authorities in a toxic oil case.

Her statement, made in support of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's street protest, was swiftly countered by the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Officials refuted Lu's "three nos" allegations, asserting that investigations, source tracking, and product recalls did take place. They accused her of political maneuvering and outright lying, presenting timelines and official documents to support their claims.

There was investigation, there was source tracking, there was recall

โ€” Executive Yuan and Ministry of Health and WelfareRefuting Lu Shiow-yen's claims about the central government's actions.

Lu's Facebook post quickly became a lightning rod for public anger, attracting over 8,000 comments. Many netizens criticized her, questioning her responsibility as the head of Taichung city government, the primary regulatory body. Comments like "Why don't you investigate and inspect? Are you going to Kai Dao to apologize?" and "The regulatory authority is the Taichung city government, toxic mom, stop messing around!" flooded her page.

Stop messing around!

โ€” NetizenCommenting on Lu Shiow-yen's Facebook page regarding the toxic oil scandal.

Some netizens expressed support for Lu, while others harshly criticized her self-proclaimed "mom mayor" persona. They questioned why she would allow citizens to consume toxic oil and accused her of shirking responsibility. The intense online reaction highlights the deep public concern over food safety and the political tensions surrounding the scandal.

Why don't you investigate and inspect? Are you going to Kai Dao to apologize?

โ€” NetizenCriticizing Lu Shiow-yen's role as Taichung mayor in the toxic oil 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.