Allegations that Chinese companies have been using the same trucks for transporting both fuel and cooking oil are expected to be addressed at an upcoming key political meeting next week. Observers suggest that this scandal could prompt Beijing to tighten its food safety policies.
According to an investigative report by state-backed Beijing News last week, the tankers in question were reportedly used for transporting not only fuel but also food products such as cooking oil, soybean oil, and syrup. The report highlighted that these tankers were often not cleaned between deliveries, allegedly to cut costs, and described this practice as an “open secret”.
Wang Xiangwei, an associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University’s School of Communication and former editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post, noted Beijing’s proactive response to the issue. He mentioned that China’s internet users had been commenting sarcastically on the scandal, while the State Council swiftly assembled a joint inspection team to address the situation. This indicates, according to Wang, an effort to turn the scandal into an opportunity for the party to fulfill President Xi Jinping’s directive of meeting people’s aspirations for a better life.
President Xi Jinping has been vocal about addressing China’s longstanding food safety issues, emphasizing their significance for social stability and the party’s governance legitimacy. The upcoming third plenum of the party’s Central Committee, scheduled for Monday, is likely to discuss food safety, potentially reflecting in the post-meeting resolution document.
A political analyst based in mainland China, speaking anonymously, suggested that discussions during the plenum would likely include reforms related to food safety due to the scandal’s impact on public health and perceptions of governance.
Xie Maosong, a senior researcher at Tsinghua University, also predicted that food safety could receive heightened attention in the plenum’s final communique.
Zhan Jiang, a retired journalism professor from Beijing Foreign Studies University, emphasized the role of investigative journalism in uncovering such scandals and its importance in maintaining transparency and accountability, particularly in China’s controlled media environment.
Despite challenges and increased media restrictions in recent years, journalists continue to expose critical issues affecting public health and safety in China, underscoring the ongoing relevance of investigative reporting.