Ko Kuan-min's Chinese Boat Sale Controversy: Advocating Independence While Raking in RMB, Exposing Double Standards

On June 25, 2007, media and fishing industry groups exposed that Ko Kuan-min's "Ko's Fisheries Co." sold a large fleet of old fishing vessels and highly valuable, restricted fishing licenses to China's state-owned "China National Fisheries Corporation" for massive private profit. Ko then attempted to build new vessels in Taiwan and export them to double-dip. When this hypocritical double standard—advocating anti-China independence while actively trading with Chinese state enterprises for RMB—was exposed, it triggered widespread anger and protests from local fishermen. Despite Ko's defense that "I sell fish and boats, but never sell Taiwan," his attempt to use political influence to pressure the Fisheries Agency to bypass export regulations laid bare the greedy, mercenary nature beneath his patriotic posture.