Latest news with #China-friendly
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Taiwanese rally for and against the recall of opposition lawmakers seen as close to China
TAIPEI: Threats from China and anger over legislative deadlock are dominating Taiwan's political discourse as residents rally for and against a campaign to recall two dozen opposition Nationalist Party lawmakers in polling to be held on Saturday. Thousands of supporters of the independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party turned out in the heart of the capital Taipei on Thursday to hear from civil society activists, writers, musicians and others who support the recalls, which could potentially give the party, also known as the DPP, a majority in the legislature. The DPP won last year's presidential election, but came up short in the legislature. Since then, the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and their allies have sought to hobble the power of the executive and blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget. That has been seen as undermining both Taiwan's hard-won democracy and its ability to deter China's threat to invade the island it considers its own territory. Those concerns prompted activists to campaign for recall votes in the districts where Nationalists were seen as most vulnerable, and they succeeded in 24 districts where votes are scheduled this weekend. A recall measures must win 40% of the constituents in a district to succeed, after which a special election will be held to fill the seat, in which all parties can compete. The KMT and the smaller Taiwan People's Party together hold a majority in the parliament with 62 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. The KMT on Thursday sent some of its best known politicians, including the mayor of Taipei, the speaker of the legislature and the party chairman, out to urge voters to oppose the recall. It also planned a rally in Taipei on Friday. The KMT calls the measure a power grab by the DPP and a threat to multi-party democracy. Perhaps more than any issue, China has loomed over the campaign, with both its officials and state media dismissing the recall effort as a further futile attempt to preclude what they call the inevitability of Beijing's annexation of Taiwan, either by military or peaceful means. On Taiwan, it has brought out differences between Taiwanese who favor pursuing the current path and those who seek accommodation with Beijing. China-friendly politicians have been accused of selling out Taiwan for accepting trips to the mainland and meetings with Chinese politicians, while they defend themselves as keeping open lines of communication in light of Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. The recall campaign — Taiwan's first — was prompted by anti-KMT groups alarmed by the party's closeness with China, corruption and the KMT's refusal to work with President Lai Ching-te's administration. They first needed to gather signatures from 10% of voters in each district, targeting legislators seen as particularly vulnerable or controversial and under China's influence. Each campaign seeking to unseat a single legislator required a huge organizational effort, limiting the number of KMT lawmakers targeted. The KMT is primed to contest any special elections that must be called within six months, raising the possibility that they could win back the seats, and the DPP, although enlivened by the campaign, could still remain in the minority.
14 hours ago
- Politics
Taiwanese rally for and against the recall of opposition lawmakers seen as close to China
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Threats from China and anger over legislative deadlock are dominating Taiwan's political discourse as residents rally for and against a campaign to recall two dozen opposition Nationalist Party lawmakers in polling to be held on Saturday. Thousands of supporters of the independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party turned out in the heart of the capital Taipei on Thursday to hear from civil society activists, writers, musicians and others who support the recalls, which could potentially give the party, also known as the DPP, a majority in the legislature. The DPP won last year's presidential election, but came up short in the legislature. Since then, the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and their allies have sought to hobble the power of the executive and blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget. That has been seen as undermining both Taiwan's hard-won democracy and its ability to deter China's threat to invade the island it considers its own territory. Those concerns prompted activists to campaign for recall votes in the districts where Nationalists were seen as most vulnerable, and they succeeded in 24 districts where votes are scheduled this weekend. A recall measures must win 40% of the constituents in a district to succeed, after which a special election will be held to fill the seat, in which all parties can compete. The KMT and the smaller Taiwan People's Party together hold a majority in the parliament with 62 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. The KMT on Thursday sent some of its best known politicians, including the mayor of Taipei, the speaker of the legislature and the party chairman, out to urge voters to oppose the recall. It also planned a rally in Taipei on Friday. The KMT calls the measure a power grab by the DPP and a threat to multi-party democracy. Perhaps more than any issue, China has loomed over the campaign, with both its officials and state media dismissing the recall effort as a further futile attempt to preclude what they call the inevitability of Beijing's annexation of Taiwan, either by military or peaceful means. On Taiwan, it has brought out differences between Taiwanese who favor pursuing the current path and those who seek accommodation with Beijing. China-friendly politicians have been accused of selling out Taiwan for accepting trips to the mainland and meetings with Chinese politicians, while they defend themselves as keeping open lines of communication in light of Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. The recall campaign — Taiwan's first — was prompted by anti-KMT groups alarmed by the party's closeness with China, corruption and the KMT's refusal to work with President Lai Ching-te's administration. They first needed to gather signatures from 10% of voters in each district, targeting legislators seen as particularly vulnerable or controversial and under China's influence. Each campaign seeking to unseat a single legislator required a huge organizational effort, limiting the number of KMT lawmakers targeted. The KMT is primed to contest any special elections that must be called within six months, raising the possibility that they could win back the seats, and the DPP, although enlivened by the campaign, could still remain in the minority.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Taiwanese rally for and against the recall of opposition lawmakers seen as close to China
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Threats from China and anger over legislative deadlock are dominating Taiwan's political discourse as residents rally for and against a campaign to recall two dozen opposition Nationalist Party lawmakers in polling to be held on Saturday. Thousands of supporters of the independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party turned out in the heart of the capital Taipei on Thursday to hear from civil society activists, writers, musicians and others who support the recalls, which could potentially give the party, also known as the DPP, a majority in the legislature. The DPP won last year's presidential election, but came up short in the legislature. Since then, the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and their allies have sought to hobble the power of the executive and blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget. That has been seen as undermining both Taiwan's hard-won democracy and its ability to deter China's threat to invade the island it considers its own territory. Those concerns prompted activists to campaign for recall votes in the districts where Nationalists were seen as most vulnerable, and they succeeded in 24 districts where votes are scheduled this weekend. A recall measures must win 40% of the constituents in a district to succeed, after which a special election will be held to fill the seat, in which all parties can compete. The KMT and the smaller Taiwan People's Party together hold a majority in the parliament with 62 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. The KMT on Thursday sent some of its best known politicians, including the mayor of Taipei, the speaker of the legislature and the party chairman, out to urge voters to oppose the recall. It also planned a rally in Taipei on Friday. The KMT calls the measure a power grab by the DPP and a threat to multi-party democracy. Perhaps more than any issue, China has loomed over the campaign, with both its officials and state media dismissing the recall effort as a further futile attempt to preclude what they call the inevitability of Beijing's annexation of Taiwan, either by military or peaceful means. On Taiwan, it has brought out differences between Taiwanese who favor pursuing the current path and those who seek accommodation with Beijing. China-friendly politicians have been accused of selling out Taiwan for accepting trips to the mainland and meetings with Chinese politicians, while they defend themselves as keeping open lines of communication in light of Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. The recall campaign — Taiwan's first — was prompted by anti-KMT groups alarmed by the party's closeness with China, corruption and the KMT's refusal to work with President Lai Ching-te's administration. They first needed to gather signatures from 10% of voters in each district, targeting legislators seen as particularly vulnerable or controversial and under China's influence. Each campaign seeking to unseat a single legislator required a huge organizational effort, limiting the number of KMT lawmakers targeted. The KMT is primed to contest any special elections that must be called within six months, raising the possibility that they could win back the seats, and the DPP, although enlivened by the campaign, could still remain in the minority.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Taiwan's recall election could fuel cross-strait strife with China
Taiwan's sweeping recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers could reshape its legislature and intensify tensions with China, as President Lai Ching-te backs the campaign amid accusations of Beijing interference. read more In a move that may sharpen cross-strait frictions with China, President Lai Ching-te has thrown his weight behind a rare and sweeping recall vote that could see up to 31 opposition lawmakers unseated, more than a quarter of Taiwan's parliament. The vote, scheduled in two phases on July 26 and August 23 has been framed by its backers as a grassroots effort to defend Taiwan's democracy. However, the Kuomintang (KMT) opposition party has accused Lai and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign to weakening rivals and tightening control over the legislature. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The DPP lost its legislative majority in January 2024 elections despite winning the presidency for a third straight term. Since then, the opposition led by the China-friendly KMT and its ally, the Taiwan People's Party has pushed legislation that many DPP supporters view as curbing Lai's powers. Amid growing tensions, civil groups launched recall drives against several KMT legislators earlier this year, accusing them of compromising national security and aligning too closely with Beijing. Though initially distant, the DPP has increasingly embraced these campaigns with lawmakers and party officials now openly supporting recall efforts. Lai recently declared that his party 'must stand with the power of the people.' The KMT, however, has called the recalls a 'malicious' attempt to reverse the parliamentary outcome and accused the DPP of staging a 'fake civil movement.' It says its outreach to China is crucial, given that Beijing has cut off official contact with the Lai administration, branding it separatist. KMT lawmakers, who regularly visit China, say their engagement is intended to protect Taiwan's economic interests and ensure open communication amid rising regional tensions. But civil society groups backing the recalls have characterised the movement as 'anti-communist,' accusing KMT politicians of working against Taiwan's sovereignty by undermining defence spending and parliamentary order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The stakes are high. If the recalls succeed, Lai's party could regain a foothold in parliament—potentially clearing the way for expanded military funding and closer alignment with the United States. But such a shift could also inflame China, which has escalated its military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan in recent years and rejected repeated offers of dialogue from Lai. China's state-run media has painted the recall drive as a DPP power grab, frequently referring to it as a 'green terror' or move toward 'dictatorship'—terms echoed by the KMT. According to Taiwan's IORG research group, Chinese state media and affiliated accounts published more than 400 pieces on the recall between January and June 2025. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has condemned what it calls clear efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to interfere in the island's democratic processes. 'Recall in Taiwan is a civil right,' it said, 'and it is up to the people of Taiwan to decide who should or should not be removed from office.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD DPP leaders have pointed to the alignment between Beijing's rhetoric and the KMT's statements as further evidence of Chinese interference. 'China is really concerned that the mass recall will succeed and gain public support,' said DPP legislative caucus secretary general Wu Szu-yao. KMT officials continue to deny pro-Beijing accusations. 'We've always stressed that we are pro-communication, not pro-China,' said Tony Lin, chair of the KMT's Culture and Communication Committee. The party maintains that the recall push is less about democracy and more about Lai's alleged incompetence and attempts to centralise power. As the recall vote nears, it has become a proxy battle not only for legislative control but also for Taiwan's long-running contest between those favouring closer ties with China and those advocating a more assertive defence of the island's sovereignty. With inputs from agencies
Newsroom
7 days ago
- Business
- Newsroom
Luxon goes back to the future on China
Analysis: With Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea, a key Pacific partner signing a controversial strategic partnership with Beijing, and open letters from former politicians accusing the Prime Minister of positioning the country as an adversary of China, it has been a tough year for New Zealand's relations with the Asian superpower. But a successful – and drama-free – state visit can work wonders, if the tone at this year's China Business Summit is anything to go by. With last month's trip to Shanghai and Beijing still fresh in his mind, Christopher Luxon kept his rose-tinted glasses on, describing China as 'a vital part of New Zealand's economic story and … a key partner in our pursuit of growth, resilience and opportunity'. Echoing his remarks before his closed-door meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Luxon emphasised the country's global influence as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the world's second-largest economy. And for all that his Government has drawn criticism for allegedly neglecting the relationship with Beijing, there was an element of Sir John Key – arguably New Zealand's most China-friendly leader – in how Luxon spoke about the economic opportunities offered by the Chinese market. 'You've got a country there with 500 million middle-class people living middle-class standards of life – huge opportunity. We've got an economy growing at 5 percent a year, which is adding essentially an Argentinian economy to it every single year – huge.' Directly addressing Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong, the Prime Minister said New Zealand accounted for just 0.3 percent of China's overall trade. 'The opportunity for us is actually to say, 'Well, if you get it from 0.3 to 0.4, you're actually growing our business 25 percent.' There were some notes of caution. Luxon reiterated the Government's desire for greater trade diversification, while emphasising the policy wasn't about choosing other markets over China but instead increasing economic resilience. A question about the Government's efforts to build closer security ties with the US attracted a bit of snark – 'I've seen commentary from politicians and stuff, and that's lovely' – but also a reiteration of his previous line on the matter. 'We can't have prosperity if we don't have security: these issues are now linked, you can't have them in separate buckets, like we've previously done.' But Beijing would likely be pleased with Luxon's overall tone, along with his pledge to have 'a good number of ministers cycling through China' for the rest of the coalition's term. Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong said New Zealand and China had 'no conflict of fundamental interest'. Photo: Sam Sachdeva Luxon's positivity was picked up by Wang, who said New Zealand had 'mostly been at the forefront of China's relations with Western developed countries, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both nations'. There was no repeat of Wang's warning last year that any New Zealand involvement in the Aukus security pact would be seen by Beijing as taking sides; he may judge silence is the best approach for now as rumours swirl about whether the Trump administration will seek to substantially amend – or even withdraw from – the alliance. Instead, the ambassador emphasised 'tectonic shifts' in the international landscape, with the shift towards a multipolar world becoming unstoppable as developing nations turned into major players. 'Gone is the era when the world was dominated by one or a small number of countries, which used to monopolise international rule-making and unfairly reaped disproportionate, if not exclusive, benefits of development.' But if power is becoming more distributed among states, China still wants to lay claim to its fair share. Wang spoke about his country's contributions to cutting-edge technology like satellite technology, quantum communications and artificial intelligence, while arguing there was significant potential still to be unleashed in domestic consumption. 'For any nation, decoupling from China is giving up on one-third of global growth opportunities, on nearly half of the world's innovations, and on access to critical resources and capabilities needed for addressing common challenges.' China and New Zealand had 'no conflict of fundamental interest', he said, emphasising the need for mutual respect in the years ahead. 'Our common interests far exceed our differences, which, through common efforts, must not be allowed to be blown out of proportion or get in the way of our cooperation.' There is clearly some residual anxiety about the state of New Zealand-China relations, particularly among Kiwi businesses operating in China. Speaking about the NZ Business Roundtable in China's annual business outlook survey, board director David Boyle said 70 percent of those surveyed felt the bilateral relationship with China was strong – a 14-point drop on last year, and the lowest result since it began. The top recommendation for the Government? 'Continue to clearly articulate New Zealand's independent foreign policy and support for the international rules-based order.' Responding to such unease from Kiwi exporters, while maintaining the linkages between prosperity and security that he has spoken of, will continue to be a challenge for Luxon and his Government.
