Vice President Wu Den-yih has criticized President-elect Tsai Ing-wen for what appears to be a policy reversal on US pork imports.
Right now Taiwan does not allow the import of US pork containing ractopamine, an agent that enhances leanness in meat. But incoming agriculture minister, Tsao Chi-hung, said that Taiwan cannot resist pressure to allow the imports.
Tsao will be taking over the role of agriculture minister on May 20, when Tsai takes over as president.
Vice President Wu said Sunday that while the incoming agriculture minister is taking the lead on the issue, the blame for opening up the imports will lie with Tsai.
Wu said that if the pork that the US exports to the European Union is free of ractopamine, then why should Taiwan accept anything different. He asked if Taiwan should be relegated to the status of a second-class nation. Wu said that the citizens of Taiwan and local pork sellers alike would not support that.