Lai Ching-te officially takes officeHelen DavidsonOutside the president’s office, where the crowd is watching this part of the ceremony on a large screen, there is a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd as Lai is formally declared president of the Republic of China.A giant screen outside the Presidential Office shows a live feed of Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te (C) taking his oath during the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty ImagesShareUpdated at 03.24 CESTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureHelen DavidsonOn Friday we got a sign of how combative Lai’s first term may be domestically.While Lai won the presidency, the DPP lost its majority in the legislature. The new legislature took office soon after the election, and on Friday were set to vote on a controversial new bill but debate soon turned into a physical brawl.The bill is a parliamentary reform measure, and includes provisions which the DPP says will constrain the administration. Legal scholars have said the bill – which would allow the prosecution of literally anyone who refuses to appear before the legislature for questioning to be jailed for up to three years for the vaguely define “contempt of congress – is likely unconstitutional. But opposition parties the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party, have tried to push it through, including using methods which critics have called undemocratic.Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Kuo Kuo Wen (C) tries jumping onto the desk during the voting for the Parliament reform bill at Parliament in Taipei on May 17, 2024. Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty ImagesOpposing legislators fought to take control of the rostrum, with people climbing over chairs, tables and each other to occupy the seat, jostling and shoving each other while KMT speaker Han Kuo-yu looked on. Over the melee, KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin blasted out the national anthem on a plastic recorder.Puma Shen, a former civil society figure who is a newly appointed MP, took a nasty fall over a crowd and a table. He was taken to hospital, and later released with what he said was a bad concussion.Taiwan lawmakers argue and exchange blows during a parliamentary session in Taipei, Taiwan May 17, 2024. Photograph: Ann Wang/ReutersLater that evening, as fighting continued inside, pro-DPP protesters gathered at the gate. There are more protests planned for this week. It will be interesting to see if this issue escalates, driven by the deep political divisions here.Brawling in Taiwan’s parliament is not unheard of, in fact it’s notorious for it. Previous fights have including legislators throwing pig guts across the floor over an argument about US pork imports. But this one saw some serious injuries, and the – complicated – dispute behind it doesn’t bode well for a sense of parliamentary unity at such a tense time for Taiwan.Taiwan lawmakers argue and exchange blows during a parliamentary session in Taipei, Taiwan May 17, 2024. Photograph: Ann Wang/ReutersShareWe’re expecting Lai to make his first speech as president at 11.10 local time, in just under two hours. He is expected to express goodwill towards Beijing, and call for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to pursue peace, a senior official briefed on the matter told Reuters.ShareUpdated at 03.36 CESTAs Lai signs appointment decrees for the Premier, Secretary-General to the President, and National Security Council Secretary-General, the defence forces are performing for guests, marching with flags and saluting with guns.ShareHelen DavidsonMore now from the Guardian’s Helen Davidson and Chi Hui Lin:As the very formal handover was conducted, the screen behind the leaders was filled with emojis and the message “Thank you President Xiao Ing”, using a nickname for the outdoing president, Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, “Little Ing”.ShareUpdated at 03.29 CESTHelen DavidsonBeijing has a lot on its plate, but it’s not letting any slights go unpunished.On Wednesday China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced it would be punishing five Taiwanese political commentators – and their families – for “spreading rumours to smear the mainland”.According to the spokesman, Chen Binhua said the offenders had disregarded the facts of China’s development and progress, and had been deliberately fabricating rumours which “often fuelled netizens’ antagonism” on both sides of the Strait.Among the egregious falsehoods Chen accused Edward Huang, head of the Democratic Progressive Party’s Central Executive Committee, of mocking mainland residents for not being able to afford pickled vegetables, and TV pundit Wang Yi-chuan of claiming there are no backrests on China’s high-speed trains.The five commentators are in Taiwan, and the undefined punishments are likely to be largely symbolic in effect.ShareLai Ching-te officially takes officeHelen DavidsonOutside the president’s office, where the crowd is watching this part of the ceremony on a large screen, there is a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd as Lai is formally declared president of the Republic of China.A giant screen outside the Presidential Office shows a live feed of Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te (C) taking his oath during the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty ImagesShareUpdated at 03.24 CESTHelen DavidsonTwo very short statements from the new leaders – Lai took the oath of office, and Hsiao pledged to uphold the constitution. They are now being presented with the seal of the Republic of China.Meanwhile outside the president’s office, the controversial new speaker of the legislature – opposition MP Han Kuo-yu – has arrived. There is some very light booing from the crowd (Han will have few fans here).ShareLai and Hsiao sworn inLai has been sworn in, and his vice-president, Hsiao Bi-khim, is being sworn in now.She describes herself as a “cat-warrior”: A political veteran, Hsiao, 52, came up with her own nickname when she was sent to Washington – with her four cats – in 2020.The moniker was her response to Beijing’s aggressive “wolf warrior” style diplomacy, which was becoming increasingly combative at that time. Like a cat, Taiwan’s diplomacy would be agile, flexible and comfortable in narrow spaces, she said. The animals are lovable but also independent.ShareUpdated at 03.16 CESTGuests bowed towards a large portrait of Sun Yat Sen, the National father of the Republic of China. Lai then took to the stage to bow, too.ShareThe national anthem has just finished, and the guests have taken a bow.Share



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