DPP Spokesperson Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said agreeing to lift the ban on US bone-in beef was the “most serious mistake” since dictator Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) decision to withdraw from the UN in 1971.
More specifically, Hsiao blamed NSC Secretary-General Su Chi (蘇起), who is accused by the DPP and some pan-blue lawmakers of forging a deal with the US over the beef issue without first obtaining the consent of the public.
“If the beef issue ends up hurting Taiwan-US relations, Su must be held fully accountable. The blame should not be shouldered by the Legislative Yuan or the Taiwanese people,” Hsiao said.
She pointed out that in the past, the US has had disagreements with other countries, such as Japan, South Korea and Europe, over disputes on agricultural imports, but at no time had the conflict been so great as to affect military cooperation.
“It is quite despicable of the Ma government to keep threatening the public, saying if we ban US beef imports, the US would refuse to sell weapons to Taiwan,” Hsiao said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JENNY W. HSU, FLORA WANG AND CNA
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