TAIPEI – A new wave of political wrangling between Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties that has involved street protests and lawmakers tussling adds to questions about President Lai Ching-te’s ability to govern.

On Dec 20, lawmakers engaged in tense scenes at the door to the legislature.

Members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) piled desks, chairs and other furniture to block the entrance, while Kuomintang (KMT) legislators pushed and shoved to get past them.

Video clips also showed protesters gathering outside the legislature around midday on Dec 20 to voice displeasure with plans by the KMT to push forward legal changes that they fear will undercut Mr Lai’s government.

On Dec 19 night, several thousand people gathered peacefully – a much smaller number than the protests that erupted in May over an effort led by the KMT to expand the legislature’s powers that eventually failed. 

The protests and fighting between lawmakers are the latest challenge to Mr Lai in leading Taiwan, which China has pledged to bring under its control some day, by force if necessary.

The People’s Liberation Army has already held major drills around the main island twice since he took power.

And last week, Beijing sent a large number of naval vessels near the archipelago after Mr Lai made stops in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam on a trip to visit Pacific allies.

The renewed tensions in Taiwan come at a sensitive time because US President Joe Biden is preparing to leave the White House after repeatedly vowing to defend Taiwan from any Chinese invasion, muddying the longstanding US position of strategic ambiguity.

US President-elect Donald Trump’s return in January casts doubts over those reassurances, adding fresh turbulence to one of the biggest sources of tension between the two nuclear-armed superpowers.

Trump has appointed several China hawks to key positions, a move that leaders in Taiwan have interpreted as meaning they will continue to have US backing.

The KMT, which wants closer ties with China, is trying to push through three amendments on Dec 20 that Mr Lai’s supporters say are aimed at undermining him.

They involve reducing the share of tax revenue allocated to the central government, and making it harder to challenge legislation in the Constitutional Court and recall elected officials.

The KMT has argued that the changes it is trying to make are badly needed reforms to government. 

Even if the opposition manages to pass the amendments despite the chaos on the floor, the Bills won’t become law right away.

Mr Lai can send the changes back to the legislature once, though the opposition would likely just approve them again.

While Mr Lai’s victory in January’s election meant the DPP kept control of the presidency, his party lost its majority in the legislature, where the KMT and its allies have combined to form a majority to counter his policy agenda. BLOOMBERG

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