Description: Tawan’s recall vote failed to oust around one fifth of the country’s Parliament, comprised mostly of oppositional lawmakers, with President Lai Ching – te aiming at consolidating power. The vote was instigated by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after evidence emerged over high levels of influence from China within the oppositional Kuomintang party (KMT). KMT has continuously insisted on forming closer economic ties with China and has advocated for closer bilateral ties which was vigorously objected by the ruling DPP. KMT has additionally blocked the DPP in bringing forward legislation which would enable Taiwan to increase defense spending while some of the party members in Taiwan’s Parliament have been accused of meeting with high level officials from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The political instability arrives after months of military tensions, where the Chinese navy has increased his presence in the Taiwan Strait through numerous military exercises as a show of force.
Impact: With the failed recall vote, Taiwan’s President and his DPP are left to rule from a position of minority which further complicates the political landscape in the country and enables China to increase its influence operations over Taiwan’s internal political dynamics. The Chinese government has denounced any involvement in the recall vote despite the presence of evidence demonstrating the contrary. The recall vote would also reinvigorate the oppositional KMT in advancing the political agenda of low – level resistance towards China, which potentially compromises Taiwan’s national interests. The unsuccessful recall vote further emphasizes the outreach of Chinese decades – long influence operations in Taiwan and could potentially instigate a political crisis and destabilize the country internally, which could in turn have regional geopolitical ramifications.