Thousands of people protested outside Taiwan’s parliament after reforms were passed that are expected to curtail the president’s powers.
Taiwan’s opposition-dominated legislature has ignored mass protests to push through legislative changes seen as favorable to China.
The controversial bill, passed on Tuesday, weakens the power of President Lai Ching-te and the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government that took office last week.
The reforms, pushed by the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party, would give lawmakers the power to require the president to report regularly to parliament and answer their questions. They also make it a crime for government officials to disrespect parliament.
The bill also gives Congress more power over the budget, including defense spending. Congress can also require the military, private companies and individuals to disclose information lawmakers deem relevant.
The Nationalist opposition party officially supports reunification of Taiwan with China, from which it separated during the 1949 civil war.
After January elections, they controlled parliament with a one-seat majority, with Rai holding the presidency.
Garbage bag and paper airplane
Thousands of people gathered outside Parliament to protest the changes, with banners supporting both sides of the debate hanging in the chamber and shouting and shoving taking place inside.
DPP lawmakers have accused the KMT and minority Taiwan People’s Party lawmakers of undermining Taiwan’s democracy by expanding legislative oversight of the executive branch.
The DPP argues that the reforms were forced through without proper consultation and are either vague or an overreach.
As the bill was being voted on, ruling party lawmakers hurled garbage bags and paper airplanes at opposition lawmakers.
“You can control parliament, but you can’t control public opinion,” DPP floor leader Ker Keng-ming said in a parliamentary speech, adding that Beijing influences Taiwan’s politics.
Opposition lawmakers held sun-shaped balloons and chanted, “Let’s bring sunshine into Parliament.”
China, despite having no formal diplomatic ties, sends aircraft and ships near Taiwan on a daily basis as part of a campaign aimed at weakening a unified opposition on the island and weakening its defenses, which are strongly backed by the United States.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that three Chinese military aircraft and 11 navy and coast guard vessels had been spotted in the past 24 hours, down from 21 military aircraft and 15 vessels it reported on Monday.
