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Black gold

Black gold (黑金) is a term used in Taiwan to refer to political corruption. The "black" here refers the obtaining of the money (the "gold") through a dark, secretive, and therefore corrupted method.

Former Minister Ma Ying-jeou was noted for his zealous fight against Black Gold.


Black gold also means iron, petroleum, and coal in Taiwan. In the Appalachian Mountains of the United States, a major coal-producing region, the term refers to coal. In most of the world, though, it means only crude oil (petroleum).

The term was popularized by the television show The Beverly Hillbillies where it was mentioned in the theme song, along with another synonym for crude oil, Texas Tea.

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