The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and pig farmers from Pingtung County yesterday demonstrated outside the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Taipei against a proposed lifting of a ban on imports of US pork products, and vowed to mobilize larger protests if the incoming Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government does not maintain the ban.
Pork farmers led by Pingtung County Pork Farmers’ Association president Pan Chang-cheng (潘長成) and TSU members held placards that read: “No to American pork with ractopamine” and “No to toxic pork, defend our health.”
“Allowing pork with ractopamine to be imported from the US would have severe impacts on pig farmers, as well as on public health,” Pan said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
“Nearly 98 percent of pork products in Taiwan are locally produced, which shows that we do not need to import pork from elsewhere, especially if the pork contains ractopamine,” Pan said.
“If the next government insists on lifting the ban, I will mobilize pig farmers from across the nation to demonstrate in front of the Presidential Office and the Council of Agriculture [(COA],” he added.
He expressed his concerns that pork prices might drop by 50 percent if US pork is allowed to be imported, which could have a major impact on the more than 300,000 people working in related industries, and a majority of pig farmers might not be able to survive, as most of them draw their funding from loans.
“[COA minister-designate] Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) has served as Pingtung County commissioner, he should know the problem very well,” Pan said. “He should know that Pingtung has the largest pig farming industry in the nation, which supplies about one-quarter of the pork in the nation, and would suffer the most if US pork products are allowed to be imported.”
Pan accused Tsao of “surrendering before the fight has even started.”
The latest dispute over pork imports was sparked when Tsao said in a recent interview with the Chinese-language United Daily News that he would not be able to stop the lifting of the ban.
TSU’s Department of Organization director Chao Chao-lin (張兆林) said Tsao would not have made the statement without prior consideration, adding that Tsao saying so probably means the US is putting pressure on the incoming DPP government.
“That is why we are here to show the public opinion related to the US here,” Chang said. “We are also showing the incoming government that they are backed by the government in their negotiations with the US, and thus should not give up on the pork issue.”
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
RSS