Protests greet US beef imports

"On March 10, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said in a speech that he missed the steaks he had had in Houston and that he believed we'd soon have US beef in Taiwan again. Following his remarks, the health department began convening cross-ministerial negotiations [about lifting the ban on US beef]," said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇).

Even Council of Agriculture Chairman Lee Chin-lung (李金龍) had clearly stated that the council opposed allowing US cattle and beef to enter the nation, but regrettably, "the council's professionalism was not respected," KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said.

"We appeal to the government to apply the brakes on this erroneous decision and not risk the public's health," Lai said.