In Taiwan, a significant clash among lawmakers erupted in parliament, captured on video, over contentious bills that critics claim could undermine democracy.
Legislators hold a crucial position in shaping national governance, and witnessing them in physical altercations over the passage of new bills is concerning.
The altercation in Taiwan’s parliament turned physical as disagreements flared over three legislative amendments put forth by the opposition.
Lai Ching-te, leading the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), opposed the amendments, leading some members of his party to occupy the podium of the main chamber since Thursday evening (December 19).
The group fortified their position by barricading the podium and stacking chairs to prevent entry.
The Kuomintang (KMT) party and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), both allies, are actively working to push these bills through the legislative process.
One controversial amendment seeks to alter the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, potentially making it harder for the public to remove officials from office.
The DPP warned in a statement: “If the KMT forcefully passes the amendments… Taiwan’s democratic self-checking and self-repairing mechanism will be gone, and it will also cause significant and irreversible damage to Taiwan’s civil society and democratic system.
“At a time when Taiwan’s democracy is being violated and damaged, we must stand up and take action.”
Friday (December 20) saw protesters outside the parliament vocally opposing the bills, with chants of ‘return the evil amendments’ and ‘defend Taiwan’, as reported by AFP.
“I am here to protest the opposition parties for trying to confiscate the people’s rights to recall,” voiced David Chen, a graduate student, to AFP.
Roy Ngerng, a journalist covering Taiwan’s politics, described the parliamentary altercation as ‘horrifying’ on social media.
He tweeted: “Horrifying scenes in Taiwan’s legislature today, as rogue KMT legislators violently attacked DPP legislators, in order to push through 3 rogue bills—they pushed Huang Jie to the floor, threw Ariel Chang to the wall, kicked and beat Chen Pei-yu, and Lin Chu-Yin injured her arm.”
Footage of the scuffle rapidly spread on social media, displaying lawmakers in physical confrontations. Lin Chu-Yin reportedly suffered an arm injury during the incident, according to media sources.
Opponents of the proposed legislation express concern that it could weaken Taiwan’s position against China, which views the island as part of its territory.