Taiwanese expats in America are throwing their support behind U.S. pork. Dialing in to a Taiwanese talk show, U.S.-based expats touted the safety of American pork. They also emphasized that allowing U.S. imports was key to Taiwan’s accession to global trade organizations. The issue of U.S. pork containing ractopamine is one of four referendum questions that will go up for a vote in Taiwan on Dec. 18.
Yang Huang Maysing
Former ambassador-at-large
This is the international standard. But some people in Taiwan are calling it poisoned pork. That’s not good. That’s an insult.
Emphasizing that American pork is not poisoned pork, former Ambassador-at-Large Yang Huang Maysing says that a green light for U.S. pork imports is key to Taiwan’s accession to international trade organizations.
Yang Huang Maysing
Former ambassador-at-large
If you object to it, the U.S. won’t discuss trade with you. Trade agreements are reciprocal. The CPTPP is under Japan’s leadership at the moment. This is our chance.
Yang Huang had lived in the U.S. for decades before returning to settle in Taiwan. On the talk show, she backed the decision to allow U.S. pork imports. Taiwanese expats in the U.S. also dialed in to express support.
Stone Chen
US-based artist
U.S. pork is eaten in hundreds of countries all over the world. The U.S.’ 300 million people eat it. Today Taiwan wants to join the CPTPP. Dozens of its member countries eat it. If you oppose it, you will not be able to join. You’ll become an orphan of the world.
The Taiwanese Association of America issued a statement addressing the upcoming referendum. It said that referendums were an important democratic mechanism. It said that the KMT had long stood opposed to referendums, yet was now proactively promoting them. The party’s motives for pushing the upcoming vote are questionable, the statement continued.
Stone Chen
US-based artist
Taiwanese at home and abroad must work hard to oppose unreasonable referendums, for the sake of their own future and the future of their children and grandchildren.
Wu Chao-feng
US-based finance specialist
The U.S. is Taiwan’s second largest trading partner. There are quite a few people and companies in Taiwan that need to do business with America, in order to feed their families. The U.S.’ perception of Taiwan can determine the future development of Taiwan-U.S. economic and trade relations.
Voices from Taiwan and the U.S. spoke out in favor of U.S. pork imports. In Los Angeles, Taiwan expats held a press conference to make their stance known. Bringing out dishes including braised pork trotter and soy-stewed pork, they called on Taiwan nationals to support U.S. imports and vote no in the upcoming referendum.
藍營力推反萊豬公投,在美台僑屢屢發聲,發表聲明力挺美豬進口,更在台美兩地視訊串聯,告訴國人,美國食品很安全,海內外台灣人應該反對這不合理的公投,讓台灣順利加入國際組織CPTPP。
[[前無任所大使 楊黃美幸]]
“這是國際的標準,但有台灣人說這是毒豬,這不行,這是侮辱。”
直指美豬不是毒豬,前無任所大使楊黃美幸提醒,讓美豬進口台灣,是台灣加入世界貿易組織的關鍵。
[[前無任所大使 楊黃美幸]]
“如果你反對了,美國就不跟你談貿易,貿易協定是互惠的,CPTPP現在剛好是日本在主導,這是我們的機會。”
在美居住數十年,回台定居的楊黃美幸上節目專訪,力挺美豬進口台灣,更和在美國的台僑連線。
[[旅美畫家 陳文石]]
“美國豬全世界上百個國家都在吃,美國三億人也都在吃,現在台灣想加入的CPTPP,數十個會員國也都在吃,別人進口,你卻反對,你無法參加會變成國際孤兒。”
全美台美人團體更發表聲明,公民投票為重要民主機制,向來反對公投的中國國民黨卻一反常態,全力推動,並炒作四大公投案,其背後動機與心態,相當可議。
[[旅美畫家 陳文石]]
“海內外的台灣人,為了自己和子子孫孫的前途,就要努力來反對這不合理的公投。”
[[旅美金融家 吳兆豐]]
“美國是台灣第二大貿易夥伴,台灣有不少人和公司需要與美國做生意,養家活口。美國對台灣的觀感,能決定美台經貿關係如何發展。”
台美兩地串聯支持美豬進口,美國洛杉磯的記者會更搬出滷豬腳、爌肉,大啖美食,以實際行動呼籲國人,投下公投反對票。
Related News