Taiwan’s Pan-Blue and White Coalitions Protest Toxic Oil Scandal on Ketagalan Boulevard

Opponents of the Lai Ching-te administration gathered on July 25, 2026, for a large-scale protest on Ketagalan Boulevard to demand accountability over a food safety scandal involving contaminated oil. Organizers claimed attendance exceeded 200,000 people, according to reporting from Yahoo News. The demonstration focused on the government’s perceived failure to hold officials and companies responsible for the “toxic oil” issue.

The rally featured a coalition of political figures from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). High-profile speakers included former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, and TPP legislator Huang Kuo-chang, who all criticized the current administration’s handling of the food safety crisis, as reported by Yahoo News.

KMT and TPP Leadership Presence

Several prominent KMT figures sought a primary role in the protest to voice opposition to President Lai Ching-te. According to Liberty Times, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, and legislator Cheng Li-wen were among the key figures attempting to lead the anti-administration narrative during the event.

The rally did not see unanimous participation from the KMT’s top leadership. Liberty Times reported that former Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng was absent from the proceedings, and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih declined to take the stage.

Presidential Office Response to Protest

The Presidential Office issued a response to the gathering of mayors and legislators on Ketagalan Boulevard. According to ETtoday, the office expressed its hope that city and county mayors would return to their official duties and work alongside the central government to protect food safety.

The administration’s response contrasts with the narrative presented by protesters. While the government emphasized collaborative food safety efforts, the rally participants characterized the administration’s approach as indifferent. An analysis by UDN described the public’s food safety concerns as a “fire of popular resentment” directed at a government they perceived as cold or unresponsive.

Demands for Toxic Oil Accountability

The central theme of the July 25 protest was the demand for “toxic oil accountability.” Protesters and political speakers alleged that the Lai government had not done enough to investigate or punish those responsible for the distribution of contaminated oil in the food supply chain, according to Yahoo News.

The scale of the protest, with organizers claiming over 200,000 attendees, indicates a significant mobilization of the “Blue-White” (KMT and TPP) alliance. The event served as a coordinated effort to leverage food safety anxieties into a broader political critique of the current executive branch.