A referendum was held in Taiwan asking for the approval or disapproval of the ban on the import of pork from the United States, but the majority of the opposition decided to continue importing.
The Kuomintang, the largest opposition party, has positioned this referendum as a vote of no confidence in the Tsai Ing-wen administration, but the administration has been trusted.
In January, Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen administration lifted the ban on the import of pork raised on food containing additives to increase lean meat.
It was decided that the target would be pork from the United States, and that import restrictions that do not meet international standards should be eliminated in order to conclude a free trade agreement with the United States.
In response, the Kuomintang, the largest opposition party, proposed a referendum to ban imports again for reasons such as food safety, and a referendum was held on the 18th, but it was not approved by the majority.
Prior to the vote, President Cai acknowledged that this issue was not only related to relations with the United States, but also to the success or failure of Taiwan's participation in the TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, but it was decided to continue imports. "It clearly expressed the desire of Taiwanese people to actively participate in the international community."
In addition, a referendum was held to ask for or against three themes, such as those related to energy policy, but none of them was established.
The Kuomintang has positioned this referendum as a vote of no confidence in the Tsai Ing-wen administration, but on the contrary, the administration has been trusted and has not been able to grasp the trigger for the party's recovery.