Taiwan passed a controversial bill Tuesday aimed at countering China's influence on the self-ruled island, less than two weeks before it goes to the polls to elect a new president. The "anti-infiltration bill" pushed by President Tsai Ing-wen's Beijing-sceptic ruling party became law despite strong opposition from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.
It bans "hostile" foreign forces from activities such as campaigning, lobbying, making political donations, disrupting social order or spreading disinformation related to elections. Violators face a maximum five-year prison term and a fine of up to around $332,000. KMT lawmakers displayed a placard reading "Protest evil law" during a parliamentary sit-in and abstained from voting on the bill.
They urged voters to punish Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the polls on January 11.
Outside parliament, dozens of pro-China activists waved banners reading "down with Tsai Ing-wen" and "Green (DPP) Terror". The bill has been a hot topic in the run-up to the elections as relations with China have dominated the campaign.
Tsai, who has described the vote as a fight for Taiwan's freedom and democracy, is seeking a second term against the KMT's Han Kuo-yu, a city mayor who favours warmer relations with Beijing. She has said the bill was a response to "fears in Taiwan's society over China's infiltration from all sides".
"We passed the bill to prevent China, which is Taiwan's only threat, from using its sharp power and its capital to pollute, manipulate or sabotage Taiwan's democratic activities," said DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu after the bill was passed.
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