00:00As Taiwan's latest legislative session comes to a close, tempers flare and tensions boil over.
00:09Shouting and pushing isn't anything new in politics here, nor is it a surprise for the
00:14opposition-held legislature. The opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party cleaned
00:21house, passing several laws on its agenda before the session's end. They pushed through amendments
00:26unfreezing some KMT-related assets, and they passed changes to the Satellite Broadcasting Act,
00:33easing restrictions on opposition-friendly TV channels that have had their licenses revoked.
00:38But perhaps most divisive was delays to President Lai Ching does proposed 40 billion U.S. dollar
00:44special defense budget. Opposition lawmakers have repeatedly blocked the bill, demanding the
00:49president answer lawmakers' questions about the spending plan.
00:56The opposition also advanced a reduced 12 billion U.S. dollar defense budget put forward
01:07by the TPP. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party slammed the move.
01:11Special defense spending aside, the legislature has yet to even begin deliberating on the 2026
01:32general budget. The delay could make it even harder for the government to keep functioning
01:36and providing public services. But though the session was marked by clashes, the two sides were
01:42able to find some common ground, including on a bill expanding social housing rights for young
01:47couples. The rare bipartisan effort is a glimmer of hope for a legislature that's otherwise been
01:58deadlocked for months. But with the chamber's next session just around the corner and another fight
02:04brewing over Taiwan's recent tariff deal with the U.S., the shouting, shoving and refusal to budge
02:09looks set to continue. Joseph Wu and Leslie Liao for Taiwan Plus.
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