TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan People’s Party Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said Wednesday that Food and Drug Administration Director-General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) may resign this week amid the ongoing tainted cooking oil controversy.
Speaking during a radio interview, Huang criticized the government’s handling of the scandal, saying it initially refused to recall products made with the contaminated oil before later reversing course, per Liberty Times. He reiterated his party’s call for Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to resign and urged the public to attend a KMT-organized protest Saturday.
Asked whether the size of Saturday’s demonstration could determine the level of accountability within the government, Huang said the administration might “let go of a low-ranking official.” When the host pressed him to identify the official, Huang said his sources indicated it could be Chiang.
Asked whether he planned to leave by the end of the week, Chiang said there was still much work to do, per UDN. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said he had received no information suggesting Chiang would resign, NOWNews reported.
Shih said the ministry’s priority is ensuring food safety. Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) dismissed Huang’s comments as “baseless speculation,” saying central and local governments should work together instead of engaging in what she described as political rhetoric and maneuvering, per ETtoday.
DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said he believed the Cabinet would seek accountability after addressing the food safety scandal. However, he said the health ministry and FDA needed to remain focused on handling the crisis for now, per ETtoday.
Chuang said the caucus would respect any future personnel decisions made by the Cabinet.
Tai Sounds reported that the Cabinet had considered replacing Chiang after the public began questioning the government’s handling of the scandal. The report said that after Shih became aware of the rumors, he told Cho during a Cabinet meeting that he had not been included in any discussions about potential personnel changes.
