Taiwan: flying pig offal in Parliament

• A decision by Taiwan’s political leadership has caused turmoil and chaos in parliament.
• Eventually, pork offal also flew through the government building in the capital Taipei.
• The background to this is a dispute between the government and the opposition over meat imports from the United States.

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In protest against the planned imports of meat from the United States, the opposition in the Taiwanese parliament Pork offal thrown to the government faction.

Kuomintang (KMT) members first emptied buckets of pork offal in parliament on Friday and then targeted their colleagues from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) Intestines, hearts and other organs.

In doing so, they protested against a government decision in the future Allow the import of meat from US pigswho has used ractopamine hormone for fattening.

Ractopamine makes pigs grow faster and affects the leanness of the meat. In The EU and China are banned from the additive.

US-Fleischimporte in Taiwan hochumstritten

Washington officials had previously threatened that restrictions on US pork and beef exports would jeopardize a proposed bilateral trade deal. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and his DDP then caved and allowed the controversial pig to be imported from January 1.

Meat imports from the United States are highly controversial in Taiwan. An annual demonstration with thousands of workers last weekend also addressed the issue. Mainly the Taiwanese meat industry, which the He fears competition from the United States, opposes government plans.

The DDP, however, stressed that the US a important business partner to be. He has rejected allegations that ractopamine is harmful to health.

It happens in Parliament in Taipei again and again to chaos and fist fights. When President Tsai took office four years ago, the dispute over his reform policy and pension cuts ended in clashes.

In the summer, a KMT deputy was supposed to go to parliament after a fight with cuts to the hospital to bring. (AFP / fte)

Teaserbild: © AFP / Sam Yeh