Taiwan's Legislative Shift: Nationalists Empowered, Presidential Power Dimmed

Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature passed changes enhancing its power over budgets, including defense spending. The Nationalist Party, which favors unification with China, gained control after January elections. The presidency, held by Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party, which supports Taiwan's de facto independence, faces diminished power.

Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature passed changes on Tuesday that are seen as favouring China and diminishing the power of the island's president.

The changes pushed by the opposition Nationalist Party and its allies give the body greater power to control budgets, including defence spending that the party has blocked in what many see as a concession to China.

The Nationalists took control of the legislature with a single-seat majority after elections in January, while the presidency went to Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party, which favours Taiwan's de facto independence from China. The Nationalists officially back unification with China, from which Taiwan separated during a civil war in 1949.