The Lesson of the Tainted Milk Scandal
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
September 22, 2008
Ripples from the tainted milk scandal continue to spread. Leading brands besides San Lu have been found to contain melamine. The term "Made in China" has become synonymous with shoddy goods. Something that originally concerned only individual manufacturers' commercial reputations, has become all about Mainland China's international image. For Taiwan the problem is the government's import inspection system. Green Camp legislators are even pointing the finger at cross-strait policy.
From a purely factual perspective, the tainted milk scandal is the handiwork of unscrupulous businessmen. But too many "Made in China" products are shoddy, and too many government officials have turned a blind eye to the problem, or even covered up the truth. Such officials are accomplices in crime. Their conduct is inexcusable. These scandals have not happened merely once in a blue moon. They have not happened merely with one or two products. Years ago counterfeit liquor led to blindness, even death. In recent years tainted dumplings in Japan and tainted pet foods in the US have shaken international confidence. Consumers the world over hear "Made in China," and they shudder. But in fact, people on the Mainland have been the worst victims.
One American financial writer has urged a boycott of Chinese goods. She has written a book called "A Year without 'Made in China,'" urging a boycott of Made in China products. But not using Made in China products is virtually impossible. A Wikipedia search for "Made in China" turns up a number of negative connotations. Made in China is virtually a synonym for poor quality. Some well-known international brands can neither escape the reality of Mainland China OEM, or avoid marking the products with the country of manufacture. This has led to such strange labels as "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." Taiwan brands have also added intriguing labels beneath the "Made in China' label, that read "This product is covered by a $xxxxxx product liability insurance policy. Consumers may use it in confidence."
Mainland China is gradually rising. It has technological prowess to spare. It build the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the Maglev train, and the "Bird's Nest" Olympic sports stadium. It hosted the Beijing Olympics and amazed the world. It is attempting to create an image of the "Rise of a Great Nation." But paradoxically it has neglected ordinary peoples' daily needs. It has ignored consumer safety. It has destroyed the nation's image within the global community. Mainland China still has a long way to go before it is perceived as a modern nation. The gap cannot be measured by Gross Domestic Product, import and export data, or volume of trade. The gap must be measured by increased human rights, freedom of expression, individual rights, consumer awareness, and other factors. Mainland China still has a long way to travel on its journey toward modernization.
Meanwhile, on Taiwan, the Executive Yuan has been skinned alive for the tainted milk scandal. The Department of Health has been clueless. Importers didn't even use the term "powdered milk" when declaring their products with customs. Their motives were probably suspect from the outset. Government inspection of imported goods cannot possibly cover every aspect of every product. But now that the public is especially wary of Made in China products, the government must modify its screening procedures. It must respond to the public's concerns about Made in China products.
This involves more than consumer rights. Anti-China sentiments on the island have been stirred up, making matters even more complicated. The Green Camp is attempting to turn the issue into one of cross-strait policy. They are probably overplaying their hand. But the Mainland authorities have also seized the opportunity to use such terms as "China's Taiwan region" when dealing with illegal immigrants. Therefore one should not be surprised if the public reacts negatively.
The Ma administration's campaign theme was the liberalization of cross-Strait policy. Liberalization of cross-Strait policy is not something that only the industrial sector wanted. Over seven million voters endorsed it. So the problem is not liberalization per se. Liberalization does not mean the abandonment of a professional inspection system or the neglect of the rights and interests of the public. If tainted goods are shipped to Taiwan, the administration must seek compensation or file complaints. The tainted goods scandal need not have dragged in the issue of sovereignty. But precisely because it does not involve the issue of sovereignty, the administration ought to lodge a powerful protest on behalf of consumers. The previous administration was criticized for being soft in its handling of the US Mad Cow disease scandal. Does the current administration intend to make the same mistake in its handling of the tainted milk scandal? Individual companies can harm the image of an entire nation. The government can harm the rights of individual citizens. This is the lesson of the tainted milk scandal.
毒奶粉事件啟示錄
【聯合報╱社論】
2008.09.22 02:28 am
中 國毒奶粉事件爆發，且持續擴大，現在查出的已不只當初「三鹿」一家，連多家領導品牌的產品都驗出摻有三聚氰胺。「中國製」現在幾乎等同「黑心商品」的代名 詞，本來是個別廠商的商譽問題，但升高來看，這已變為中國的國家形象問題。在台灣這一端，出問題的則是政府的進口商品檢驗機制，綠營立委甚至將矛頭指向兩 岸政策。
就事論事，毒奶粉是不肖商人之過。不過，「中國製」的黑心商品之多，加以其公部門輕縱，甚至掩飾真相，形成龐大的共犯結構，格外 不可原諒。這已不是一天兩天的新聞，也不是一種兩種商品的個案。早年在大陸內部就有不可勝數的假酒造成失明、致死事件，近年轟動國際的則如日本毒水餃和美 國的寵物毒飼料事件，令全世界消費者聞「中國製」而色變，大陸民眾更是首當其衝的受害者。
美國一名財經作家曾身體力行抵制中國製產品，寫 出《沒有中國製造的一年》一書，盡訴使用中國製商品之不安，但不用卻又幾乎寸步難行之苦。維基百科查「中國製」一詞，延伸的解釋頗具負面含意，直指為「品 質較差」的同義詞。有些國際知名品牌既無法擺脫中國代工的現實，也不能迴避商品須標明生產地的規定，遂出現了例如「蘋果電腦加州設計，中國組裝」的奇怪標 示。也有台灣廠牌商品，在「中國製」的標籤下，加註「本商品已投保ＸＸ產物保險責任險ＸＸ萬元，請消費者安心使用」等字樣，其用意耐人尋味。
中 國日漸崛起，造青藏鐵路、磁浮列車的大工程宛如游刃有餘，建「鳥巢」、辦京奧等盛事亦令全球驚嘆。這個努力塑造著「大國崛起」形象的政府，卻偏偏在老百姓 的柴米油盬、民生用品這等事情上，置消費者安全於不顧，且在全球化的經濟網中，自毀國家形象。可見中國想要躋身現代化文明國家，確實還有相當距離。這個距 離，恐怕不是用國民生產毛額、進出口貿易量等數據來衡量；這個距離，如果加進了人權、言論自由、個別公民權益、消費者意識……等因素考量，則此一現代化旅 程還有漫漫長路要走。
回頭看台灣自身的問題。這次毒奶粉事件，行政院被罵到體無完膚，衛生署也毫無章法。進口商當初甚至不是用「奶粉」名 目報關，恐怕從一開始就有點「奸巧」的用心。政府對進口商品的檢驗機制，本來也不可能巨細靡遺到所有商品的所有元素皆逐一查驗，但現在國人對「中國製」商 品特別敏感，把關的程序就必須跟著調整，針對「中國製」的來源要特別戒慎恐懼，以回應台灣民眾的疑慮。
更有甚者，這其中牽涉的不只是消費者權益而已，還有本來就撓動島內神經的「反中」情結在內，使事情更加複雜。綠營人士把此事升高到兩岸政策的層次，看似有點「太超過」了；但若考慮到中國官方也藉機偷渡「我國台灣地區」的小動作，則難怪台灣民眾反彈。
馬 政府的兩岸政策以鬆綁為主軸，這已獲得不只是產業界、且包括七百多萬選民的背書。所以問題並不出在「鬆綁」本身，而是「鬆綁」不等同專業查驗機制或國內民 眾權益「棄守」。任何國家出口有毒商品到台灣，政府都大可嚴正抗議或要求賠償。這次為了一個商品品質問題，本來也沒有必要搞到主權議題去；但正因為不涉及 主權，所以政府代表「消費者」抗議「出口國」的立場大可就事論事，理直氣壯。政府在處理狂牛症陰影下的美國牛肉進口問題，曾被批評軟弱無能，如今碰上毒奶 粉事件，豈可重蹈覆轍？個別廠商可能影響國家形象，國家機制也可能影響個別公民的權益，這是毒奶粉事件的啟示。
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
September 22, 2008
Ripples from the tainted milk scandal continue to spread. Leading brands besides San Lu have been found to contain melamine. The term "Made in China" has become synonymous with shoddy goods. Something that originally concerned only individual manufacturers' commercial reputations, has become all about Mainland China's international image. For Taiwan the problem is the government's import inspection system. Green Camp legislators are even pointing the finger at cross-strait policy.
From a purely factual perspective, the tainted milk scandal is the handiwork of unscrupulous businessmen. But too many "Made in China" products are shoddy, and too many government officials have turned a blind eye to the problem, or even covered up the truth. Such officials are accomplices in crime. Their conduct is inexcusable. These scandals have not happened merely once in a blue moon. They have not happened merely with one or two products. Years ago counterfeit liquor led to blindness, even death. In recent years tainted dumplings in Japan and tainted pet foods in the US have shaken international confidence. Consumers the world over hear "Made in China," and they shudder. But in fact, people on the Mainland have been the worst victims.
One American financial writer has urged a boycott of Chinese goods. She has written a book called "A Year without 'Made in China,'" urging a boycott of Made in China products. But not using Made in China products is virtually impossible. A Wikipedia search for "Made in China" turns up a number of negative connotations. Made in China is virtually a synonym for poor quality. Some well-known international brands can neither escape the reality of Mainland China OEM, or avoid marking the products with the country of manufacture. This has led to such strange labels as "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." Taiwan brands have also added intriguing labels beneath the "Made in China' label, that read "This product is covered by a $xxxxxx product liability insurance policy. Consumers may use it in confidence."
Mainland China is gradually rising. It has technological prowess to spare. It build the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the Maglev train, and the "Bird's Nest" Olympic sports stadium. It hosted the Beijing Olympics and amazed the world. It is attempting to create an image of the "Rise of a Great Nation." But paradoxically it has neglected ordinary peoples' daily needs. It has ignored consumer safety. It has destroyed the nation's image within the global community. Mainland China still has a long way to go before it is perceived as a modern nation. The gap cannot be measured by Gross Domestic Product, import and export data, or volume of trade. The gap must be measured by increased human rights, freedom of expression, individual rights, consumer awareness, and other factors. Mainland China still has a long way to travel on its journey toward modernization.
Meanwhile, on Taiwan, the Executive Yuan has been skinned alive for the tainted milk scandal. The Department of Health has been clueless. Importers didn't even use the term "powdered milk" when declaring their products with customs. Their motives were probably suspect from the outset. Government inspection of imported goods cannot possibly cover every aspect of every product. But now that the public is especially wary of Made in China products, the government must modify its screening procedures. It must respond to the public's concerns about Made in China products.
This involves more than consumer rights. Anti-China sentiments on the island have been stirred up, making matters even more complicated. The Green Camp is attempting to turn the issue into one of cross-strait policy. They are probably overplaying their hand. But the Mainland authorities have also seized the opportunity to use such terms as "China's Taiwan region" when dealing with illegal immigrants. Therefore one should not be surprised if the public reacts negatively.
The Ma administration's campaign theme was the liberalization of cross-Strait policy. Liberalization of cross-Strait policy is not something that only the industrial sector wanted. Over seven million voters endorsed it. So the problem is not liberalization per se. Liberalization does not mean the abandonment of a professional inspection system or the neglect of the rights and interests of the public. If tainted goods are shipped to Taiwan, the administration must seek compensation or file complaints. The tainted goods scandal need not have dragged in the issue of sovereignty. But precisely because it does not involve the issue of sovereignty, the administration ought to lodge a powerful protest on behalf of consumers. The previous administration was criticized for being soft in its handling of the US Mad Cow disease scandal. Does the current administration intend to make the same mistake in its handling of the tainted milk scandal? Individual companies can harm the image of an entire nation. The government can harm the rights of individual citizens. This is the lesson of the tainted milk scandal.
毒奶粉事件啟示錄
【聯合報╱社論】
2008.09.22 02:28 am
中 國毒奶粉事件爆發，且持續擴大，現在查出的已不只當初「三鹿」一家，連多家領導品牌的產品都驗出摻有三聚氰胺。「中國製」現在幾乎等同「黑心商品」的代名 詞，本來是個別廠商的商譽問題，但升高來看，這已變為中國的國家形象問題。在台灣這一端，出問題的則是政府的進口商品檢驗機制，綠營立委甚至將矛頭指向兩 岸政策。
就事論事，毒奶粉是不肖商人之過。不過，「中國製」的黑心商品之多，加以其公部門輕縱，甚至掩飾真相，形成龐大的共犯結構，格外 不可原諒。這已不是一天兩天的新聞，也不是一種兩種商品的個案。早年在大陸內部就有不可勝數的假酒造成失明、致死事件，近年轟動國際的則如日本毒水餃和美 國的寵物毒飼料事件，令全世界消費者聞「中國製」而色變，大陸民眾更是首當其衝的受害者。
美國一名財經作家曾身體力行抵制中國製產品，寫 出《沒有中國製造的一年》一書，盡訴使用中國製商品之不安，但不用卻又幾乎寸步難行之苦。維基百科查「中國製」一詞，延伸的解釋頗具負面含意，直指為「品 質較差」的同義詞。有些國際知名品牌既無法擺脫中國代工的現實，也不能迴避商品須標明生產地的規定，遂出現了例如「蘋果電腦加州設計，中國組裝」的奇怪標 示。也有台灣廠牌商品，在「中國製」的標籤下，加註「本商品已投保ＸＸ產物保險責任險ＸＸ萬元，請消費者安心使用」等字樣，其用意耐人尋味。
中 國日漸崛起，造青藏鐵路、磁浮列車的大工程宛如游刃有餘，建「鳥巢」、辦京奧等盛事亦令全球驚嘆。這個努力塑造著「大國崛起」形象的政府，卻偏偏在老百姓 的柴米油盬、民生用品這等事情上，置消費者安全於不顧，且在全球化的經濟網中，自毀國家形象。可見中國想要躋身現代化文明國家，確實還有相當距離。這個距 離，恐怕不是用國民生產毛額、進出口貿易量等數據來衡量；這個距離，如果加進了人權、言論自由、個別公民權益、消費者意識……等因素考量，則此一現代化旅 程還有漫漫長路要走。
回頭看台灣自身的問題。這次毒奶粉事件，行政院被罵到體無完膚，衛生署也毫無章法。進口商當初甚至不是用「奶粉」名 目報關，恐怕從一開始就有點「奸巧」的用心。政府對進口商品的檢驗機制，本來也不可能巨細靡遺到所有商品的所有元素皆逐一查驗，但現在國人對「中國製」商 品特別敏感，把關的程序就必須跟著調整，針對「中國製」的來源要特別戒慎恐懼，以回應台灣民眾的疑慮。
更有甚者，這其中牽涉的不只是消費者權益而已，還有本來就撓動島內神經的「反中」情結在內，使事情更加複雜。綠營人士把此事升高到兩岸政策的層次，看似有點「太超過」了；但若考慮到中國官方也藉機偷渡「我國台灣地區」的小動作，則難怪台灣民眾反彈。
馬 政府的兩岸政策以鬆綁為主軸，這已獲得不只是產業界、且包括七百多萬選民的背書。所以問題並不出在「鬆綁」本身，而是「鬆綁」不等同專業查驗機制或國內民 眾權益「棄守」。任何國家出口有毒商品到台灣，政府都大可嚴正抗議或要求賠償。這次為了一個商品品質問題，本來也沒有必要搞到主權議題去；但正因為不涉及 主權，所以政府代表「消費者」抗議「出口國」的立場大可就事論事，理直氣壯。政府在處理狂牛症陰影下的美國牛肉進口問題，曾被批評軟弱無能，如今碰上毒奶 粉事件，豈可重蹈覆轍？個別廠商可能影響國家形象，國家機制也可能影響個別公民的權益，這是毒奶粉事件的啟示。
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