More than 20 university students clashed with police yesterday during a protest against US pressure for Taiwan to open up its market to imports of beef containing ractopamine residues.
“We eat ractopamine and the US makes money,” shouted the students, who were mostly from National Taiwan University’s Journalism Club, in front of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
At least one student was taken to the nearest police station after the group tried to set fire to a placard bearing a picture of the Statue of Liberty in front of the AIT.
Photo: CNA
Upset over the move, the students accused the police of abusing their power.
Ruian Police Precinct chief Yang Chih-chieh (楊志傑) said the student was attempting to set an object on fire, which was a violation of the Public Safety Act (公共危險罪), and refused to provide identification when asked. Police took him to the station to take his statement, Yang said.
Moreover, the protesters had not applied for a permit to hold a gathering at an off-limits area at the AIT, Yang said.
John Cheng, a student representative, said that until ractopamine is scientifically proven to be safe, the US should respect Taiwan’s zero-tolerance policy.
“Taiwan needs to safeguard its sovereignty over foodstuffs,” Cheng said, calling attention to the potentially negative impact of US beef imports on the domestic market.
Ractopamine, a muscle-growth drug, is allowed as a feed additive in more than 20 countries, including the US, but is banned in 160 countries, including Taiwan, China and the EU states. Other civic groups and pig farmers have also staged protests, appealing to President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration to retain the ban on ractopamine.
The AIT has repeatedly said it hoped Taiwan would consider lifting the restriction based on scientific studies, many of which have stated its safety.
“We hope Taiwan will take a science-based approach to setting a maximum residue level for ractopamine,” AIT spokesman Christopher Kavanagh said a day earlier.
Washington has long been pressing Taipei to relax the ban on imported meat containing ractopamine residues that it imposed in 2006. The pressure has intensified since Ma won re-election in January’s presidential election.
The US beef dispute is seen as central to the reopening of talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Taiwan and the US.
Washington decided against resuming TIFA talks early last year after Taiwan refused to allow the entry of shipments of US beef containing ractopamine residues.
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