Taiwan Softens Stand on China
The National Assembly, ending an era of confrontation with the Beijing government, voted Monday to scrap Taiwan’s four-decade-old provisions on the “suppression of the Communist rebellion.”
Lawmakers also approved a change in the constitution that could loosen the Nationalist Party’s grip on power in Taiwan. The Nationalists have ruled Taiwan since 1949, when they fled mainland China after losing a civil war to Communist forces.
Both governments regard Taiwan as a Chinese province. Officials said Monday’s vote could help lead to talks on reunification.
The National Assembly voted 438 to 7 to abrogate the 1948 provisions that had allowed the Nationalists to suspend certain constitutional rights and justify emergency measures.
“Official talks (between Taiwan and China) on direct trade and other issues look more possible now that the key obstacle is removed,” said Chuang Sho-han of the private National Policy Research Center.
The National Assembly also approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the number of National Assembly deputies to 327 from 593 and the size of the Parliament to 161 from 230, which is expected to reduce the hold of aging legislators elected in China.
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