In response to DPP Legislative Yuan Caucus Whip Ko Chien-ming’s call for the KMT to engage in a cross-party cooperation on the nuclear food issue, Deputy Chairman of the KMT Culture and Communications Committee Alfred Lin responded that the KMT refuses to arbitrarily open up the import of nuclear food and will stand with the nearly 8 million Taiwanese people who voted in favor of the anti-nuclear food referendum in 2018, and will definitely use the most stringent standards to safeguard the food safety of Taiwanese people. Mr. Ko is known for constantly changing his statements, and the public still has a vivid memory of his attitude of using violence to gain benefits for specific people or parties.
Deputy Chairman Lin reminded Mr. Ko and the DPP that food safety is the most important issue of Taiwanese people. DPP shouldn’t forget that there were 7.79 million people who voted “yes” in the 2018 anti-nuclear food referendum. The government has the obligation to safeguard people’s health and shouldn’t use the ambiguous excuses of international trade to sacrifice the food safety and health of Taiwanese people. Additionally, the CPTPP isn’t currently chaired by Japan, and even if the import of nuclear food is opened up, Taiwan still has a lot of economic and trade legal barriers to be adjusted. It’s not that simple for Taiwan to join the CPTPP, why does the DPP still insist on importing nuclear food?
Deputy Chairman Lin pointed out that the Japanese government is unable to provide scientific food security certificates with proof of origin and official radiation documents, and hasn’t guaranteed that it will help Taiwan join the CPTPP. The KMT will definitely stand with the people, refusing to open up the import of foreign food with health and safety concerns. The DPP doesn’t need to use cover-up tricks like changing the name as “Fukushima Food” in an attempt to fool the Taiwanese people.
Deputy Chairman Lin also said that the KMT hasn’t issued an official press release in advance for the nuclear food position, the relevant discussions are still ongoing. The KMT’s policy stance on the Japanese nuclear food issue is also in line with the KMT think tank and the KMT Legislative Yuan Caucus, so that we can fully discuss and reach a consensus. We solemnly clarify that any purposeful linkage of the visit to Japan with other issues is not the KMT’s position. The most important thing is to be the guardian of Taiwanese people’s food safety and health. We hope that all sectors inside and outside the party stand firm on the nuclear food issue and not be manipulated by the DPP.
