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70 Pork Import Firms Sign Petition Not to Import Ractopamine Pork

After Ractopamine Pork, Radioactive Food Also Coming to Taiwan

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Honorable to Block TV, Ban Children’s Book, and Inspect Water Meters?

The Blind Spots in DPP Foreign Policy

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70 Pork Import Firms Sign Petition Not to Import Ractopamine Pork

United Daily News, December 4, 2020

 

Taiwan will begin importing American pork containing ractopamine next year. Nearly 70 pork importers across Taiwan signed two major petitions in Taipei yesterday, stating that they will not only not be importing ractopamine pork, they will also create a “No Ractopamine" label. After receiving a certificate, imported pork can be labeled as “No Ractopamine.” However, the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen has misinterpreted the industry's actions as "helping the government to get off the hook," which immediately angered pork importers. The importers have said that “after almost being killed by the government, thinking that they are trying to help the government to get off the hook is completely absurd.”

 

This press conference was just held yesterday afternoon, but in the morning when the heads of relevant ministries were interviewed, they rushed to have a say about the press conference, stating that this action allows Taiwan to not break its promise to the United States, creates a solution for the government, and mitigates public concerns.

…read more

From: https://udn.com/news/story/9750/5065182

While the backlash related to permitting importation of U.S. pork containing ractopamine has yet to be settled, Representative to Japan Frank Hsieh's comments about easing Taiwan's ban on Japanese food products from prefectures around Fukushima (affected by the 2011 nuclear disaster) caused further controversy.
(Photo from: China Times)

After Ractopamine Pork, Radioactive Food Also Coming to Taiwan

China Times, December 5, 2020

 

While the controversy of lifting import restrictions on pork containing ractopamine has not been resolved, the timing to lift the ban on food from Japan’s Fukushima has become the focal point recently. People think that importing the Japanese food is Taiwan’s admission ticket to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Frank Hsieh, Taiwan’s representative to Japan, said in Taipei on December 5 that although Japan did not say so, the CPTPP is a high-standard free trade organization, and if Taiwan does not adopt the international standard, it will affect Taiwan’s entry into the CPTPP.

 

The importation of U.S. pork containing ractopamine has led to a messy battle between the government and the opposition parties. The government’s internal propaganda had embarrassed itself. Premier Su Tseng-chang had even drawn a Taiwanese pork exporter into the battle, President Tsai Ing-wen hastened to rescue Su several times, but the people are still opposed to the importation of ractopamine pork. Ambassador Hsieh, ridiculed by critics as “Taiwan’s helping Japan representative,” joined the controversy by saying that if food from Fukushima is tested without radioactive contamination, then it should be allowed to enter Taiwan. It seems that Hsieh has determined to make it happen; after all, Hsieh considers that this is the only big matter that he could help Japan as Taiwan’s representative.

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From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20201205003447-262103

Media commentary strongly criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration in Taiwan for suppressing free speech by deciding to shut down CtiTV News and prohibiting picture books containing phrases like "Go Wuhan."
(Photo from: Tainan City Councilwoman Chen Yi-chen's facebook)

Honorable to Block TV, Ban Children’s Book, and Inspect Water Meters?

United Daily News, December 5, 2020

 

A picture book for children, Waiting for Dad to Come Home, depicting a child who misses his father, a doctor saving people and cannot return home during the pandemic, was banned in Taiwan. Because there were "Go Wuhan!" and "Go China!" slogans and illustrations of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) transport plane in this China-published picture book, which made some adults feel uneasy. Following multiple complaints by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators and city councilors, the Ministry of Culture cited the Act Governing Cross-Strait Relations and the book had not been submitted for review, requested booksellers and libraries across Taiwan to remove the book from the shelves.

 

This children's picture book contains only a few words, yet it compelled the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen to take up arms, as if the PLA plane would virtually fly out of the book. The DPP legislators, who accused the book as inappropriate, said that the book excessively "glorifies China" and feared that children in Taiwan to be brainwashed. In fact, regular people see in the book "the love of father and son", while those of the DPP see "Chinese invasion." What kind of person would a hysterical Tsai administration cultivate in Taiwan? Are children on both sides of the strait not allowed to share even the affection of father and son?

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7338/5067782

According to Su Chi, former secretary-general of the National Security Council, Biden's ascendance to the presidency presents a window of opportunity to cross-strait relations. The DPP administration ought to take advantage.
(Photo from: China Times)

The Blind Spots in DPP Foreign Policy

By Su Chi

United Daily News, November 22, 2020

 

In the spring of 2008, Taiwan had a close call with disaster. According to a book published by Michael Tsai, then Minister of Defense in the Chen Shui-bian administration, following his government service, the U.S. and Taiwanese intelligence informed him at the time that if the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s presidential candidate Frank Hsieh had won the election that year, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) would surely have taken military action against Taiwan. Chen Administration completely covered up all the information on the actions of the PRC's armed forces during those months. The Taiwan people, unaware of the situation, inadvertently saved themselves at the ballot box by voting Hsieh's opponent into office.

 

This year Taiwan had another close shave with danger. Before the U.S. election, the People’s Liberation Army put pressure on the U.S., and the U.S. in turn leaned on the administration of Tsai Ing-wen, forcing Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu to publicly utter words completely dejecting to DPP supporters such as "[we are] not to resume diplomatic relations with the U.S." and "not to rely on the U.S. to protect Taiwan," and to issue a warning that, following the US election of November 3, "China might have improper notions to threaten Taiwan militarily." Compared with the unabashed cover-up in 2008, Wu's public warnings can be considered a step forward.

…read more

 

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7339/5034061

Indonesian migrant workers have become a large group of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases within Taiwan. The Central Epidemic Command Center announced that Indonesian migrant worker travel to Taiwan will be suspended for two weeks.
(Photo from: China Times)