By Skylor Ko - China & Asia Desk
Legislative rumble
The idea of a full-on brawl in parliamentary chambers might be alien to a Western observer of Asian politics. Still, to a Taiwanese person, it’s nothing more than a national pastime. The island’s legislature, the Legislative Yuan, has seen its fair share of physical altercations since the 1980s, and it’s so normalised to the point that these brawls are almost like a running joke to Taiwanese citizens. Brawls in the legislature are often jokingly compared to American TV wrestling shows, the point being that they’re both performative acts. This tradition continued into 2024 as the new Lai administration of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) started its term. Taiwanese parliamentarians brawled on four[1] different occasions over policy differences and disagreements. In May, a controversial parliamentary reform bill from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) that aimed to empower the legislature caused massive brawls in the chamber.[2] In December, three KMT bills once again sparked physical clashes.[3]
DPP’s uphill battle in the legislature
The continued clashes in the legislature indicate the monumental challenges the ruling party DPP is facing. In last year’s presidential election, William Lai Ching-te of the DPP was elected president with a 40% share of the total votes to continue the DPP’s governance of the island since 2016. However, the DPP lost its commanding legislative majority in the same election. The KMT became the largest party in the Legislative Yuan but did not enjoy a complete majority. Instead, the TPP, Taiwan People’s Party, a relative newcomer, was able to obtain enough seats in the legislature to ensure that either KMT or DPP would need their support to push through legislation, becoming a crucial third party in the Legislative Yuan.[4]
The TPP has since formed a coalition with the KMT to pass controversial bills that some would consider to be an attempt to undermine the ruling DPP government. The aforementioned parliamentary reform bill expanded the powers of the KMT-TPP-controlled legislature. Supporters of the bill cited the need for checks and balances against the DPP-controlled executive, while DPP supporters claimed this was an attempt to weaken the presidency.[5] Going into 2025, the DPP continued to fight an uphill battle in the Legislative Yuan. Last month, the legislature slashed the government budget by an unprecedented 7% - cutting NT$207.5 billion from government expenses.[6] The cuts meant that half of the funds allocated to Taiwan’s indigenous defense submarine initiative was frozen by the legislature, which cannot be used until the programme prototype, the Narwhal, completes its sea acceptance tests.[7]
Trump, China, and A Divided Island
The opposition’s efforts to reduce the budget coincide with external pressures on Taiwan to increase military expenditure. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly called for Taiwan to raise its defence spending to 10% of GDP. [8] Taiwan’s defence minister has expressed concern that budget reductions could send an unfavourable signal to the new U.S. administration.[9] Ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait have led some to worry that political deadlock could slow decision-making and weaken international confidence in Taiwan’s defence readiness.
The three main parties have exchanged accusations regarding the causes of recent legislative deadlock. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has criticised the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for obstructing governance, while the KMT has accused President Lai of consolidating power. The TPP, for its part, characterised the arrest of its leader, Ko Wen-je, on corruption charges as an instance of politically motivated prosecution by the DPP and the current administration.[10]
While perspectives differ, Taiwan’s internal divisions stem from more than performative politics. The island’s geopolitical significance has often drawn international attention away from its domestic challenges. These include an aging population, declining upward mobility, and energy security concerns..[11] In the most recent election, some voters expressed dissatisfaction with the established parties’ responses to these issues, contributing to increased support for the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which gained a notable presence in the legislature. Taiwan’s political gridlock may be better understood as a reflection of unresolved domestic grievances.
Amid ongoing tensions with China and uncertainty surrounding potential shifts in U.S. policy, the current administration under President Lai faces the complex task of navigating institutional constraints while maintaining unity and addressing public concerns.
[1] https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/03/taiwan-constitutional-crisis-dpp-kmt-legislature/
[2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-01/why-have-taiwan-s-politicians-been-brawling-in-parliament/103915644
[3] https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-legislature-brawl-clash-tussle-lawmakers-a832d9cee2bc99e7f46ba70a3defe3e9
[4] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/taiwans-2024-elections-everyones-a-winner-and-a-loser/
[5] https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/28/taiwan-passes-controversial-reform-bill-after-violence-and-protests
[6] https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202501210031
[7] https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202501210031.
[8] https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/24/asia/taiwans-budget-freeze-defense-trump-intl-hnk/index.html
[9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/01/17/taiwan-defense-spending-trump/
[10] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/taiwan-president-lais-three-big-challenges-in-2025/
[11] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/taiwan-president-lais-three-big-challenges-in-2025/
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