Taiwan's parliament on Tuesday (May 28) passed a reform package to increase oversight of the government pushed by the opposition but opposed by the ruling party, which did not have the numbers to block it. - REUTERS
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00:00 Taiwan passed a controversial reform package pushed by the opposition on Tuesday, despite
00:07 days of street protests against the laws, which will give lawmakers more oversight over
00:12 the government.
00:14 The reforms give lawmakers the power to ask military, private companies and individuals
00:19 to disclose information deemed relevant by parliamentarians.
00:24 They also criminalize contempt of parliament by government officials, and require president
00:30 to give regular reports to parliament and answer lawmakers' questions, which would be
00:35 a first for Taiwan.
00:37 The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, opposed the law but didn't have the numbers
00:44 to block it.
00:46 Lawmakers of the DPP were booing as the laws passed.
00:50 They said the reforms were forced through without proper consultation, and their content
00:55 was either vague or an overreach of power.
00:59 Outside parliament, thousands of people protested.
01:03 Some shouted, "Refuse Chinese political interference," as the changes are seen by some as a move favoring
01:10 China.
01:11 Here's a 65-year-old protester, Li Siyi.
01:14 "I am worried about the next generation.
01:23 Look at the politics in China now.
01:25 Its economy is bad and its youth do not want to work.
01:30 Are they as good as a democratic Taiwan?"
01:37 The protests have been taking place against a backdrop of broader concern about efforts
01:42 by China to influence the island's politics.
01:45 China views Taiwan as its own territory and denounces its new president Lai Qingde as
01:51 a separatist.
01:52 Lai rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide
01:58 their future, and has repeatedly offered talks.
02:03 The protests demonstrated the intense political atmosphere Lai faces.
02:08 Lai won the presidency in the January elections, but his party lost its majority in parliament.
02:15 Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, along with the small Taiwan People's Party,
02:21 together have the most seats.
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