Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang sought to discuss and vote on two contentious referendum bills on Friday but after cross-party discussions it has decided to defer proceedings.
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00:00Martial law and the death penalty. That's what's on legislators' minds as of late.
00:07The opposition Guomingdang has put forth two bills in Taiwan's legislature to initiate countrywide referendums on those two topics.
00:15And it was scheduled for final discussions and a vote on Friday, but that plan has been pushed back.
00:21The contentious referendums were expected to stall legislative proceedings as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party fights the bills tooth and nail.
00:38On Friday, the DPP's legislators signed up to speak in the chamber en masse, indicating they would try to hamper the referendum's passage.
00:48After private cross-party discussions in the chamber, the KMT agreed not to bring up the referendum bills in the legislature,
00:56instead choosing to prioritize another bill amending laws concerning Taiwan's holidays.
01:02What is it about the referendums that are so divisive?
01:05The first referendum will ask,
01:07Do you agree that the government should avoid war and not let Taiwan become like Ukraine,
01:13which is under martial law and where young people die while their country is destroyed?
01:18The KMT says this question is a response to President Lai Qingde designating China as a foreign hostile force.
01:27China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out unification by force.
01:33The KMT says that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's rhetoric puts Taiwan in danger and on the brink of war.
01:41The DPP and the KMT have long disagreed on how to deal with China.
02:01While Beijing sees the DPP as, quote, separatists and has historically refused to engage with any of the party's administrations,
02:11the KMT has had friendlier relations with China.
02:14The second referendum bill will ask,
02:18Do you agree that a unanimous decision should not be required to hand down a death sentence in criminal trials?
02:26The death sentence is also something the ruling and main opposition party have disagreed on.
02:32While some in the DPP have advocated for outright abolishing the death penalty in Taiwan,
02:38the KMT wants to keep it in place.
02:41The current government has not indicated it has any plans to get rid of the death penalty.
02:47The KMT holds a majority in the legislature with the help of the smaller Taiwan People's Party.
02:53That means both referendums are expected to pass when they eventually come for a vote.
02:58Taiwan's Central Election Commission has said that if the bills pass,
03:11the vote will be scheduled for August.
03:13Alex Tun and Leslie Liao for Taiwan Plus.