Debunking Four Myths about the Legislative Yuan Protests
Legislative oversight and government transparency -- what could go wrong?
Hi all, El and Yo-Ling here. Many of you may be aware that the railroading of a series of legislative bills have resulted in mass peaceful demonstrations happening in Taipei and across Taiwan since last weekend. Last night, 100,000 demonstrated in Taipei against Pan-Blue camp’s power grab. Demonstrations will continue next Tuesday (May 28th) and Friday (May 31st). It remains to be seen where this mass movement will go and how the KMT/TPP will respond.
Brian Hioe will be giving an English-language talk tonight, which will be livestreamed, titled “The Sunflower Movement 2.0?: The Pan-Blue Camp’s Congressions Reforms and Recent Protests.” Ahead of this talk, we wanted to send out this brief post by Brian “Debunking Four Myths about the Legislative Yuan Protests” as a starting point for our readers to understand what has been happening.
Myth #1: The new amendments will strengthen legislative oversight over the executive branch of government
Fact: The new changes will grant powers to legislators to summon private individuals, government officials, and others for questioning. Those who refuse to comply could face up to three years in jail under criminal charges for contempt of the legislator and individuals could be asked to give up trade secrets, details of confidential negotiations by the government such as diplomatic agreements or arms deals, or other private information. Speaking back in their course of questioning could lead to a 200,000 NT fine.
This could lead to abuse by legislators to target opponents and actually grants legislators powers normally reserved for prosecutors. This weakens the separation of powers between the judiciary and legislature, in going the legislature powers normally reserved for the judiciary, rather than strengthens legislative oversight.
Myth #2: The new amendments will lead to greater transparency in government
Fact: The controversy about the changes takes place at a time that KMT legislators have been accused of leaking government secrets, such as the details of Taiwan’s domestic submarine program, to China.
The legislative changes could be used to force individuals to disclose confidential details, including trade secrets or classified information, in a way harmful to Taiwan’s national security in forcing secrets about the military to be disclosed in a manner that results in China knowing such details, or confidential trade secrets of Taiwan’s current semiconductor industry in a manner that undermines Taiwan’s “silicon shield.”
The pan-Blue camp’s push for the new laws take place through circumventing committee review and through a closed vote in which the names of the legislators that voted for the amendments are not recorded. Is this transparent?
Myth #3: The DPP is using violence while the KMT is merely upholding process
During the fighting in the legislature last Friday, both sides engaged in physical violence. But four DPP legislators were hospitalized, while only one KMT legislator was.
Myth #4: The pan-Blue camp holds the majority in the legislature, reflecting that they hold the popular mandate. As such, the changes are valid and the DPP is blocking democratic process through violence
The KMT only seeks to expand legislative power because it does not view itself as able to win presidential elections. Otherwise, the KMT could simply wait to win the next set of elections, as a normal party.
The KMT has always enjoyed the advantage in local elections, due to clientelist and patronage networks that date back to authoritarian times, and can involve links with local factions and organized crime. Hence why the KMT views itself as able to win legislative elections. The KMT’s claim to have the popular mandate is suspect. Combined, the KMT and TPP also only have a 62 to 51 seats to the DPP in the legislature. Is this an overwhelming mandate, that the bill can be railroaded through the legislature without any committee review, never mind that protests went from 300 to over 100,000 in just a week?
What’s next?
We are following the protests closely and will be providing more Newsletter and New Bloom content with the latests. Please make sure you are following all of New Bloom’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon). You can also follow Brian, who often live-tweets on X, IG, Threads. New Bloom Magazine will be updated with articles reporting on the protests.