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國際時事跟讀 Ep.K795: Taiwan's Youth Rally Against Controversial Bill Amidst Political Turmoil
Highlights 主題摘要：
- Taiwanese youth are actively protesting against a controversial bill backed by opposition parties, which they believe threatens Taiwan's democratic principles and national security.
- The proposed legislation aims to expand the parliament's investigative powers and scrutinize the executive branch, leading to concerns about potential abuse of power by legislators.
- The protests highlight the complex political landscape in Taiwan, with the ruling DPP championing Taiwan's sovereignty amid increasing pressure from Beijing.
Taiwan is grappling with political unrest as thousands of predominantly young protesters gather outside the legislature to oppose a controversial bill backed by opposition parties. The proposed legislation, which aims to expand the parliament's investigative powers and tighten scrutiny over the executive branch, has drawn widespread criticism for its potential to undermine Taiwan's democratic principles and compromise national security. The protests coincide with the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who secured a historic third consecutive term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), further highlighting the deep political divisions within the island nation.
臺灣正面臨政治動盪，數千名以年輕人為主的抗議者聚集在立法院外，反對在野黨支持的一項具爭議性的法案。這項擬議的立法旨在擴大國會的調查權，並加強對行政部門的監督，但因其可能破壞臺灣的民主原則和危及國家安全而受到廣泛批評。抗議活動恰逢總統賴清德就職，他為執政的民主進步黨贏得了歷史性的第三個連任，進一步凸顯了這個島國內部深刻的政治分歧。
Critics of the bill argue that its vague wording and lack of adequate checks and balances could pave the way for power abuses by legislators. They express concern that government officials could be compelled to disclose sensitive information, such as diplomatic and defense secrets, or face criminal penalties under the proposed "contempt of parliament" offense. The DPP accuses the opposition of rushing the bill through without sufficient deliberation or transparency, while the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) maintain that the reforms are essential to enhance government accountability and combat corruption.
該法案的批評者認為，其措辭含糊不清、缺乏適當的制衡機制，可能為立法者濫用權力鋪平道路。他們擔心，政府官員可能被迫披露敏感信息，例如外交和國防機密，或者在擬議的 "藐視國會" 罪名下面臨刑事處罰。民進黨指責在野黨在沒有充分審議或透明度的情況下倉促通過該法案，而國民黨和臺灣民眾黨則堅稱，改革對於加強政府問責制和打擊腐敗至關重要。
The protests, which have drawn comparisons to the 2014 Sunflower Movement, underscore the challenges faced by Lai's administration in the absence of a parliamentary majority. The KMT and TPP, both of which advocate for closer ties to China, now hold sway in the legislature. Demonstrators, many of whom joined the protests after school and work, braved heavy downpours to voice their concerns, holding signs denouncing the legislative process as a "black box" and demanding the bill's immediate withdrawal. The heated political divide has even spilled over into physical altercations on the parliamentary floor, further illustrating the intensity of the ongoing struggle.
這場抗議活動讓人聯想到 2014 年的太陽花學運，凸顯了賴清德政府在沒有國會多數的情況下所面臨的挑戰。主張與中國加強聯繫的國民黨和臺灣民眾黨現在在立法院掌握主導權。許多示威者在放學和下班後參加了抗議活動，冒著大雨表達他們的擔憂，舉著標語譴責立法過程是一個 "黑箱"，並要求立即撤回該法案。激烈的政治分歧甚至蔓延到國會議事廳的肢體衝突，進一步說明了正在進行的鬥爭的激烈程度。
As discussions on the bill are set to resume, the protests serve as a poignant reminder of Taiwan's robust protest tradition and the younger generation's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the island's democratic institutions. The controversy also underscores the complex political landscape in Taiwan, where the ruling DPP champions Taiwan's sovereignty in the face of increasing pressure and threats from Beijing. With the new government just beginning its term and cross-strait relations remaining fraught with tension, the outcome of this political battle will have far-reaching implications for Taiwan's future stability and democratic resilience. As the international community watches closely, the island nation's ability to navigate these challenges will be a testament to the strength and vibrancy of its democratic system.
隨著對該法案的討論即將恢復，抗議活動成為臺灣強大的抗議傳統以及年輕一代堅定捍衛島嶼民主制度的有力提醒。這場爭議也凸顯了臺灣複雜的政治格局，執政的民進黨在面對北京日益增加的壓力和威脅下捍衛臺灣主權。隨著新政府剛剛開始其任期，兩岸關係依然充滿緊張，這場政治鬥爭的結果將對臺灣未來的穩定和民主韌性產生深遠的影響。當國際社會密切關注之際，這個島國應對這些挑戰的能力將證明其民主制度的力量和活力。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字：
- Predominantly (Pre-dom-i-nant-ly): Taiwan is grappling with political unrest as thousands of predominantly young protesters gather outside the legislature to oppose a controversial bill backed by opposition parties.
- Testament (Tes-ta-ment): As the international community watches closely, the island nation's ability to navigate these challenges will be a testament to the strength and vibrancy of its democratic system.
- Diplomatic (Dip-lo-ma-tic): They express concern that government officials could be compelled to disclose sensitive information, such as diplomatic and defense secrets, or face criminal penalties under the proposed "contempt of parliament" offense.
- Withdrawal (With-draw-al): Demonstrators, many of whom joined the protests after school and work, braved heavy downpours to voice their concerns, holding signs denouncing the legislative process as a "black box" and demanding the bill's immediate withdrawal.
- Implication (Im-pli-ca-tion): With the new government just beginning its term and cross-strait relations remaining fraught with tension, the outcome of this political battle will have far-reaching implications for Taiwan's future stability and democratic resilience.
Reference article:
1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/24/why-are-thousands-of-people-protesting-in-taiwan
2. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/22/asia/taiwan-protest-parliament-reform-intl-hnk/index.html