Lai Ching-te's first day as Taiwan's president marred with protests

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 May 2024 12:07

Citizens gather outside the Legislative Yuan to oppose attempts by the opposition parties to push through a bill without review, giving parliamentarians powers to interrogate anyone, including the president.

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Supporters of the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) during a march to protest against Lai Ching-te's ruling Democratic Progressive party in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP)

The first day of Lai Ching-te as the new president of Taiwan was greeted by large protests as thousands of Taiwanese gathered outside the Legislative Yuan to oppose attempts by the opposition parties to push through a bill without review, giving parliamentarians powers to interrogate anyone, including the president, under threat of fines and jail time.

During the debate in parliament, MP Puma Shen was hospitalized as the parties fought over the debate.

A nearby Presbyterian church opened its doors for food and shelter, as the young crowd prayed and sang hymns in Taiwanese. As the legislature was expected to stay in session until midnight, protesters vowed to stay outside.

Experts say the bill is potentially unconstitutional, poses a threat to national security, and could punish legislators for vaguely defined acts of "contempt of congress."

What's going on in Taiwan? 30 thousand people protest in front of the Legislative Yuan!台灣反對國會擴權抗議/英文版 pic.twitter.com/SsxRUFBbxc
— Stan from Poland 斯坦-波蘭ê台灣囡仔 (@poland_stan) May 22, 2024

On Monday, Lai said, "Taiwan’s people have high expectations for rational governance among political parties. Apart from competition, parties should also believe in cooperation," adding, "The majority should respect the minority, while the minority accepts majority rule. Only then can we avoid conflict and maintain a stable and harmonious society."

Jessica Fang, an international relations policy student, said she was protesting against the way the new government was ignoring Taiwan’s "democratic processes."

"They’re setting a dangerous legislative precedent that they can pass a law like this in the future, and if we don’t stop them right now they’ll think nobody cares," Fang said, noting, "Secondly, it’s poorly written legislation. The push for legislative reform is valid and legitimate but this is not the way to do it."

Guo, a 17-year-old high school student, said the bill was "against procedural justice."

In light of this, China's top diplomat said on Monday that Taiwan's internal politics does not obstruct the fact that the island and China are one part of a full entity, calling all attempts for its independence "dangerous".

At a meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers held in Kazakhstan, Wang Yi said that Taiwan's efforts for independence were "the most serious challenge to the international order," the "most dangerous change in the status quo," and the main disruptor of peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Wang Yi further asserted that China and Taiwan were one entity as per historical facts, noting that their reunification was inevitable.

When asked about Lai's inauguration, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned of the "political manipulation" certain countries exercised regarding the Taiwan issue, which interfered with China's internal politics.