In a democratic parliamentary system, it is quite common to see political disagreements spill over into heated debates on the floor of parliament. After all, when the future of a nation is at stake, such arguments are a sign of a healthy, functioning democracy. But what happens when a parliamentarian decides to take matters into their own hands? When a lawmaker steps beyond the conventional means of protest and seeks to prevent a bill from passing through more drastic, even dramatic measures.
On May 17, 2024, Taiwan’s parliament descended into chaos, when Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Kuo Kuo-Wen snatched a bill and fled the scene to prevent it from passing. As per reports, this bold act unfolded during a chaotic brawl between lawmakers, as they clashed over controversial reforms which include the criminalization of officials making false statements in parliament and strengthening the legislature’s investigative as well as executive powers. The event happened just before President-elect Lai Ching-te of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was set to take office on Monday.
Image Credit: Screenshot from the video posted on X/@CensoredMen
The video, shared by the X user “CensoredMen,” has since amassed over 18 million views, sparking a mix of reactions. Some commenters found the situation quirky or even humorous, while others voiced deep concern, calling it a troubling reflection of the state of governance.
In January elections the China-leaning opposition parties, Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), won the majority in legislature, giving them significant power over Taiwan’s policy-making. However, in the May presidential elections they lost to the DPP candidate William Lai Ching-te. To ensure their dominance and undermine the position of the country’s President, the KMT and TPP had swiftly pushed forward a set of controversial bills, which are being viewed by critics and legal experts as a way to align Taiwan more closely with China.
Image Credit: Reuters
Nikkei Asia, a financial newspaper, reported that the Taiwan Bar Association issued a statement condemning the opposition parties, who, they believe, have “undermines(d) Taiwan’s democratic foundations”. The four bills were rushed to plenary vote without discussing or reviewing them in the Legislative Yuan.
Despite intense protests both inside and outside the parliament, the four bills were ultimately passed, backed by the KMT and TPP’s majority in the Legislative Yuan. Several media experts deemed these changes controversial as well as favourable to China.
What is the history between China and Taiwan?
The tensions between the two stems from the longstanding dispute over Taiwan’s sovereignty. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that must eventually reunify with the mainland, while Taiwan sees itself as a self-governing democracy with its own political and economic systems. Due to China’s global stature, most countries shy away from recognising Taiwan as a separate nation. Today only 12 countries acknowledge sovereign Taiwan as separate from China.
