The Taiwanese Parliament elects a speaker whom the ruling party seen as pro-China

Taiwan’s Parliament chose the largest opposition party’s previous Presidential Candidate on Thursday, February 1st, 2024 to serve as Speaker. The governing Party claims the new speaker is pro-China, and will be in charge of welcoming visiting Foreign Lawmakers.

Although Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the Presidential Election last month, the Party’s majority in Parliament was lost. The DPP is seen as a separatist group by China, which recognizes Taiwan as its territory despite Taipei’s government’s protests.

The Prime Minister is chosen by the President in Taiwan’s presidential style of government, but as there is currently no majority in Parliament, the DPP will need to cooperate with the opposition to pass its legislative agenda.

The speakership election was won by Han Kuo-yu, a member of the Kuomintang (KMT), the strongest opposition Party, who was narrowly defeated by Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP in the 2020 Presidential contest.

Hosting Foreign parliamentarians, like Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 2022, is one of the speaker’s most significant responsibilities. China was so infuriated by Pelosi’s visit that it began war games surrounding the island shortly after she left.

Lai had declared during the election campaign that he would take KMT Mayors to China in order to meet with Chinese officials should Han be elected Speaker. Additionally, Han was accused of being pro-China in a television commercial by the DPP.

When questioned by reporters about his plans to visit China after taking the oath of office, Han responded that Lai shouldn’t “be overly nervous.”

Han added, “President (elect) Lai Ching-te doesn’t need to be too concerned,” without specifically stating whether or not he intended to visit China. Lai begins her term on May 20.

In 2019, before he declared his candidacy, Han paid a visit to the Hong Kong Liaison Office of the Chinese Government.

In that year, he also traveled to mainland China, where he met with top Chinese officials and reaffirmed his support for the idea that Taiwan and China are parts of “one China.”

Lawmaker Puma Shen of the DPP said, “It’s very possible he meets someone from the United Front Work Department or the People’s Liberation Army,” referring to the Chinese Communist Party organization tasked with propagandizing and gaining influence abroad.

A tiny group of demonstrators opposed Han’s appointment as a speaker outside the Parliament.

Though it vehemently disputes being pro-Beijing, the KMT has historically favored tight relations with China. It claims that the DPP accusations are unjust and malevolent slanders.

Before being ousted in a recall election in 2020 following his loss in the Presidential Election, Han also known by his colloquial nickname, “Korean fish” was the mayor of Kaohsiung, a city in Southern Taiwan.

Read Also: U.S Department of State Announces Bown as the new Chief Economist