After the exposure of the chaos surrounding chemical and edible oil being mixed in Chinese tank trucks, the situation continues to escalate. Not only has the central media criticized it, but the State Council of the Chinese Communist Party has also announced the launch of an investigation. However, analysts believe that the authorities are only taking reactive measures, as this issue was exposed 19 years ago. A speech by Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party leader, 11 years ago, stating that “If food safety cannot be maintained for a long time, the government is not competent,” has sparked heated discussions. Netizens point out that the CCP should have stepped down long ago.
On July 9th, the Chinese State Council announced the establishment of a joint investigation team to thoroughly examine the issues surrounding the transportation of edible oil by tank trucks.
Political commentator Li Linyi told Epoch Times that the initiation of the investigation by the Chinese State Council is merely a belated response because of the lack of regular monitoring. It seems that they will scapegoat some personnel from state-owned enterprises as well as specific units.
On July 2nd, the Xinjing News published an investigative report revealing that some oil tankers, after transporting industrial oils like oil from coal, without proper cleaning, also transported edible oils like syrup and soybean oil. The two companies involved are well-known state-owned grain and oil enterprises, including the China Grain Reserves Management Group and Huifu Grain and Oil Group.
This report caused a nationwide uproar, with CCTV criticizing the China Grain Reserves on July 8th for their unethical practice of mixing coal-produced oil and edible oil in tank trucks, calling it equivalent to poisoning.
However, this incident with oil tank trucks had been exposed by the media many years ago. Netizens discovered that as early as 2005, the Guangxi “Southern Daily” reported on the disorder of tank trucks cross-contaminating after transporting dangerous chemicals and then edible products.
Li Linyi further explained that media exposure may be a political show by the Communist Party of China in preparation for the upcoming Third Plenum, aiming to divert attention from the party’s role in the flood disaster and the public’s concerns over its incompetence and corruption. “Usually, they couldn’t care less, but now the party needs to shift the governance crisis and make some illicit gains from the oil transportation industry, engaging in under-the-table dealings.”
In response to the news, netizens on social media platforms outside China recalled Xi Jinping’s speech from 11 years ago, questioning the irony of his remarks. Xi Jinping once stated in 2013 that if food safety is not managed properly, doubts will be raised about the legitimacy of governance.
Various netizens voiced their frustration at the continuous failures in food safety. Some highlighted the theme of a repeating cycle of scandals and corrupt practices within the Chinese governance system.
Overall, the uncovering of the oil tanker incident has sparked discussions and calls for accountability. Some netizens even praised investigative journalists like Han Futao for their courage in revealing industry secrets, underlining the importance of independent reporting amidst China’s media landscape dominated by state-controlled narratives.
Li Linyi reflected on the significance of media reports in highlighting discrepancies within the system and the public’s desperation for transparency amidst widespread misinformation and deceit in current Chinese society.
This incident sheds light on the challenges faced in ensuring food safety and regulatory oversight in China, underscoring the need for structural reforms and genuine efforts to address deep-rooted issues within the country’s governance.