- Title: Taiwan passes law aimed at combating Chinese influence on politics
- Date: 31st December 2019
- Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (DECEMBER 31, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY (DPP) LAWMAKERS SHOUTING (Mandarin): "THE CORE OF DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE INFILTRATED" LAWMAKERS CLAPPING AFTER CHANTS VOTES SHOWING UP ON DISPLAY DPP LAWMAKERS HOLDING UP BANNERS READING (Chinese): "IN FAVOUR" VOTING IN PROGRESS MEDIA LOOKING ON DPP LAWMAKER, CHEN OU-PO, WALKING UP TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DPP LAWMAKER, CHEN OU-PO, SAYING: "Infiltration and (efforts to) separate are everywhere. Only the destruction of Taiwanese democracy will let China's brusque annexation efforts stop. Taiwan is on the frontline of Chinese infiltration and urgently needs the anti-infiltration law to protect national security and the people's rights. The smooth passing of the bill today shows the determination to protect Taiwan and is worth for our citizens to be proud about." PORTRAIT OF SUN YAT-SEN VARIOUS OF KUOMINTANG (KMT) LAWMAKERS SHOUTING SLOGANS KMT LAWMAKERS WALKING AWAY AFTER CHANTS VARIOUS OF CAMERAMEN FILMING KMT LAWMAKER, LIN WEI-CHOU, WALKING TO PODIUM KMT LAWMAKER, LIN WEI-CHOU, SAYING: "Is this the way to handle the most important law initiative? I can only think of one reason for it to be handled so rushed and hurried, because there is an election coming up. Isn't it? If this is really the most important (bill) for this country, would it really be so rushed and hurried, without extensive discussion? Only because the elections are upon us. The state machine and majority in parliament have become an election machine in the hands of the DPP."
- Embargoed: 14th January 2020 11:01
- Keywords: china-taiwan relation taiwan election taiwan legislature
- Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BCB1D8N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Taiwan's parliament passed an anti-infiltration law on Tuesday (December 31) to combat perceived threats from China as the democratic island gears up for a presidential vote on Jan. 11 amid heightened tension with Beijing.
The bill, which is part of a years-long effort to combat what many in Taiwan see as Chinese efforts to influence politics and the democratic process, gives legal teeth to efforts to stop China funding activities on the island, such as lobbying or election campaigns. It carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and will take effect after Tsai signs it into law in January.
Several Kuomintang lawmakers staged a protest in front of the speaker's podium during the parliamentary session, shouting slogans and holding banners. Supporters from pro-China political parties protested outside parliament, calling lawmakers to withdraw what they see as legislation that "ruins" cross-Strait exchanges.
The move is likely to add tension to already strained ties between Taiwan and Beijing, which suspects Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen of pushing for the island's formal independence and has ramped up pressure on her since she took office in 2016. Lawmakers of Tsai's DPP backed the bill, which passed 67 to zero, despite opposition criticism of it as a "political tool" to gain votes ahead of the presidential and parliamentary election. Lawmakers of the main opposition Kuomintang, which favours close ties with China, did not participate in the vote.
(Production: Fabian Hamacher, Fang Nanlin) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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