On Tuesday, Beijing-empowering changes were passed by Taiwan’s opposition-dominated legislature in what political analysts have viewed as a move to curtail the powers of the island’s president and thousands of people have responded with angry protests. Opposed Nationalist party led by the opposition and its supporters urged for enhanced budgetary control by the parliament including defense spending that many observers see as giving in to China.
Nevertheless, it is not clear whether the whole package will become law. The Executive Yuan runs by a premier, who may veto legislation or send it to the President for him to enact within 10 days. If either the President or Executive Yuan are defiant, these bills die.
The protesters were made up of thousands of individuals who congregated outside the legislature. In fact, slogans from both warring factions filled legislative chamber while brawling turned into blabbering on floors.
The KMT, which stands for Nationalists officially supports unification with China that Taiwan broke away from during a civil war in 1949; after winning this year’s elections with just one seat above majority in January. Consequently, Lai Ching-te from Democratic Progressive Party DPP won presidency where he advocates for independence although de facto from China.
In contrast with this view held by DPP lawmakers about undermining democracy through increased oversight over executive branch by KMT legislators at any given time they also accused members of KMT and minority Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) deputies.
They regard it as packaging “black box” rather than reforms floated around by KMT party. Although KMT controls parliament having speaker and TPP partners elected under their umbrella list are actually accountable to no single voter’s interest.
This is despite three consecutive presidential election defeats suffered by Nationalists who still hold elective positions at local level due to their embeddedness in business and social networks established over decades under national rule that had imposed martial law on Taiwan.
As younger generations find refuge in social media, China friendly business cartels have taken over much of Taiwan’s media industry.
China, however, is progressively increasing this frequency in order to soften the opposition and undermine the defense system against US-supported Taiwan, albeit without formal diplomatic relations.
