Taiwanese Pig Farmers Protest American Beef Imports

From NetEase:

Thousands of Taiwanese farmers protest imports of beef with leanness enhancing additive

March 8th, thousands of Taiwanese farmers on the streets protested authorities releasing imported beef from America containing a leanness enhancing additive. March 5th, Taiwan’s “Executive Yuan” approved with conditions the opening of imported beef from the United States containing leanness enhancing additives (ractopamine).

[Above] Thousands of Taiwanese pig farmers unhappy with authorities releasing imported beef from America containing a leanness enhancing additive, continuously went on the streets of Taipei to protest.

According to reports, on March 5th, Taiwan’s “Executive Yuan” reached a decision on the controversial issue of whether or not American beef containing leanness enhancing additives should be allowed to be imported, conditionally allowing the import of American beef containing ractopamine.

Ractopamine (trade name: Paylean), is a new type of leanness enhancing additive, able to promote the amount of lean meat in animals, reduce the amount of feed required, bring meat products to market earlier, and lower costs. However, when large amounts of meat products containing ractopamine are consumed, it can cause symptoms of poisoning such as nausea, dizziness, muscle spasms, palpitations, increased blood pressure, increase cardiovascular disease, etc.

Ractopamine when compared to other leanness enhancing additives is relatively less toxic and is more quickly metabolized. As such, it is allowed to be added to feed in the United States and a minority of other countries. At present, America and 24 other countries in the world openly allowing Paylean while 160 other countries still prohibit it.

The outside world believes that Ma Ying-jeou ultimately deciding to conditionally open imports of American beef containing the leanness enhancing additive, in the face of vocal domestic opposition on the Taiwan island, is related to repeated pressure from the United States, connected with the breakdown of Taiwan-America Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks over American cattle, ultimately forced to open [to imports] due to Taiwanese authorities urgently desiring visa-free US travel treatment as well as American support for entering the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) and other factors.

However, in Taiwan’s “Legislative Yuan”, other than the opposition party standing opposition, many KMT members also made clear their disapproval. Photo is of Taiwanese farmers throwing chicken eggs and pig excrement at the “Council of Agriculture”.

Photo is of March 8th Taiwanese farmers protesting on the streets.

Taiwanese farmers protesting on the streets in confrontation with the police.

Taiwanese farmers protesting on the streets in physical altercations with the police.

Taiwanese farmers protesting on the streets in physical altercations with the police.

Taiwanese farmers protesting on the streets throwing chicken eggs and other “weapons” at the police.

Taiwanese farmers protesting on the streets in physical altercations with the police.

A police officer hit with an egg.

A fence erected by the police overturned by demonstrators.

Comments from NetEase:

斗转星移2 [网易江苏省南京市网友]：

The third photo, what’s written on that sign?

无以为乐 [网易北京市网友]： (responding to above)

President, dare you say NO to USA?

[Note: The joke here is that this netizen’s response is also written in complex characters.]

找个女人不容易 [网易广东省东莞市网友]：

Taiwanese farmers on the streets protested authorities releasing imported beef from America containing a leanness enhancing additive??? Why would those raising pigs oppose beef…what about those raising cows?

网易台湾省台北市网友： (responding to above)

Because Taiwanese domestic beef production is little and expensive. Taiwanese beef production has always been unable to meet demand so there’s limited impact to them. However, the moment large quantities of cheap American beef are imported, pork and beef prices will both fall, as greater choice during meat purchases will naturally affect pork sales!

网易广西梧州市网友：

Chicken eggs are good.

网易广东省网友：

Inherent nature!

492548187 [网易浙江省金华市网友]：

Compatriots, come back, the homeland’s embrace is very cozy.

lychen321 [网易广东省珠海市网友]：

It’s been 100 years for them, so where is their homeland?

中山二樵 [网易吉林省长春市网友]：

The dirty mouth professor [Kong Qingdong] was right, it’s a fake democracy!

网易美国网友：

You know fart all. Democracy is always striven for, do you think our country could truly achieve it?

网易广东省惠州市网友：

“At present, America and 24 other countries in the world openly allowing Paylean while 160 other countries still prohibit it.” Whether or not we’re included, everyone already knows. As for the harm: “…can cause symptoms of poisoning such as nausea, dizziness, muscle spasms, palpitations, increased blood pressure, increase cardiovascular disease…” To all the aunties who buy groceries, better watch yourself when shopping at the market.

网易日本网友：

Import American beef? They’re crazy. American, European, New Zealand beef, I don’t know how they’re raised, but the flavor of their beef is all terrible, with a strong gamey flavor, the color of the meat so red its unnatural, its probably only suitable for making Western-style food. At least the imported beef sold here in Japan, when prepared Chinese-style, no matter how always tastes bad.

牛碧达 [网易广东省广州市网友]：

See? This is the result of being America’s adopted son. Which is to eat leanness enhancing additives. What were you guys doing before only now knowing to protest?

sueay [网易北京市网友]：

Support the Taiwanese people.

网易重庆市网友： (responding to above)

Support the Taiwanese people in boycotting American goods!

网易美国网友：

Taiwanese compatriots, its still better to import American things, it’ll be okay as long as you never import Chinese things.

活丑 [网易上海市网友]：

American agriculture products are cheap, the farmers of middle-income and up countries mostly can’t compete, and can only rely on subsidies. Or it is like Japan, where the domestic agriculture product quality is high, and the consumers are willing to pay the high prices.

x19711008 [网易广西南宁市网友]：

There aren’t chengguan there?

95959595啦 [网易澳大利亚网友]：

Fuck, so American also has leanness enhancing additives. Hahaha…

牛碧达 [网易广东省广州市网友]：

Fuck, so America also uses leanness enhancing additives? And even openly markets it. How are American running dogs going to bear this?

网易湖南省岳阳市网友：

America has leanness enhancing additives too?!

我心飞翔1234 [网易广东省惠州市网友]：

This is in Taiwan?! I thought it was…