By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI, July 22 (Reuters)
Tensions between Taiwan and China are high, and the recall process appears to have taken on political overtones. There is a polarization between supporters of the DPP and the KMT, revealing a dispute that goes beyond a simple internal election, as there is the possibility of recalling nearly a fifth of the parliament. This has raised questions about external influence in the legislative process, especially given Beijing’s constant influence on local political narratives.
Support for the KMT generates internal conflict
As Taiwan gears up for a recall vote that could reshape its parliament, opposition lawmakers being challenged at the ballot box are getting two unusual supporters: Chinese officials and state media outlets rallying to their cause. While President Lai Ching-te won the election last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its legislative majority. The opposition has flexed its muscles since then to pass laws the government has opposed and impose budget cuts, complicating efforts to boost defence spending in particular.
The political drama has been happening against a backdrop of China ramping up its own military and diplomatic pressure campaign against Taiwan to assert territorial claims Lai and his government resolutely reject. Lai has offered talks with Beijing many times, but been rebuffed. Civic groups formally started the recall campaign earlier this year, and on Saturday voters will decide on the fate of 24 lawmakers from Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), around one-fifth of all lawmakers.
The recall groups say theirs is an “anti-communist” movement, accusing the KMT of selling out Taiwan by sending lawmakers to China, not supporting defence spending, and bringing chaos to parliament. The KMT rejects those accusations, denouncing Lai’s “dictatorship” and “green terror” – the DPP’s party colour. China has not sat quietly on the sidelines, to the KMT’s unease, ever wary of being “painted red” by its opponents.
Political tensions are growing and becoming more eroded by the disinformation campaign
Currently, there are hundreds of Chinese state media publications criticizing the DPP, promoting a “green terror” narrative, and this has unfortunately fueled suspicions about foreign interference in Taiwan’s democratic process. There is no confirmation from the KMT of any involvement in this content, but it ultimately reinforces opposition rhetoric. We still don’t know whether the public’s protests will have any effect. But, whether they succeed or not, they warn of the need to prevent this weakening of the opposition, as it could be a decisive factor in the swing of votes among undecided voters in the final stretch.
In an April commentary, China’s ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily said Lai was “presumptuously abusing the recall system to crack down on the opposition party, attempting to establish a ‘green dictatorship.'” Pointing to the similarity between China and the KMT’s arguments against the recalls, Wu Szu-yao, secretary general of the DPP’s legislative caucus, said Beijing is “offering ammunition” to the KMT to sway voters.
Mounting online pressure and highly charged political discourse have steadily cornered the KMT, forcing its leaders into a more cautious and reactive stance. There is now concern about the political strain that indirect association with China could cause.
The decision amid the battle for sovereignty will be up to the voters
This episode marks a new chapter in the struggle for political influence in Taiwan, regardless of the election results. If successful, the recalls could help regain some legislative control and thus strengthen its national defense agenda. The voters’ decision has the potential to restore the internal balance of power and send an important message about the extent to which Taiwanese accept—or reject—external interference in their democracy.