President's Trip Obstructed by CCP Suppression, Legislative Yuan Refers Proposal to Second Reading for Consultation

Taipei, CNA – (Central News Agency reporter Wang Yang-yu, Taipei, April 24) President Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini, a diplomatic ally in Africa, on April 22, but the trip was temporarily suspended due to Chinese interference. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislative Yuan caucus submitted a proposal condemning the Chinese Communist Party government's barbaric actions. The Legislative Yuan today decided, without objection from both ruling and opposition parties, to refer the case directly to the second reading for consultation, with the DPP caucus responsible for convening the consultation.

President Lai's scheduled visit to Eswatini on April 22 was temporarily suspended after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly revoked flight permits for the special plane, sparking widespread discussion.

Before the Legislative Yuan meeting today, DPP caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung and others indicated that the DPP caucus would propose a resolution at the Yuan meeting, calling on both ruling and opposition parties to jointly condemn the CCP's suppression.

The DPP caucus proposal states that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent democratic nation. The Chinese government has recently used diplomatic coercion and economic pressure to force Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius to unexpectedly revoke flight permits for the Taiwanese head of state's special plane, seriously threatening flight safety, violating international norms and conventions, and further undermining the principles of national equality and non-interference enshrined in international law, openly challenging the international order and suppressing the Republic of China's right to engage with the world.

The proposal further states that the Yuan meeting should adopt a resolution including "The Legislative Yuan, regardless of party affiliation, firmly supports the President of our country in conducting foreign state visits," insisting on the right of the Taiwanese people to engage with the world and cooperate with various countries. Additionally, it strongly condemns the Chinese Communist Party government's barbaric acts of using coercive means to force third countries to revoke flight permits for the Taiwanese head of state's special plane, which violates the spirit of the United Nations Charter and international civil aviation conventions, and customary diplomatic relations, and constitutes an open interference in the sovereignty of third countries.

The proposal also mentions urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseas missions, Taiwan-friendly representatives to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and all feasible channels to record this incident in international records and seek attention and response from multilateral mechanisms such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Furthermore, the proposal calls on all like-minded democratic partners around the world to recognize the Chinese Communist Party's economic and diplomatic coercion against other countries and to incorporate it into their respective "anti-coercion" policy tools and legislative reviews.

During the Legislative Yuan meeting, a five-point consensus was reached after communication between the ruling and opposition parties, including that all caucuses agreed that this case (regarding the protection of our country's diplomatic rights) would not require a proposal explanation or speeches, and would not be voted on, but would be directly referred to the second reading for consultation. During the handling of the case, the meeting chairman, Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, said that the DPP caucus proposed to refer it directly to the second reading, and according to the caucus consensus, this case would be referred directly to the second reading for inter-party consultation, with the DPP caucus responsible for convening the consultation.

When the case was being processed, DPP caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung, secretary-general Fan Yun, and other DPP legislators stood in the middle of the chamber, holding placards with slogans such as "Unite to defend sovereignty" and "Chinese bullies, unreasonable and barbaric," and shouted slogans like "Support Taiwan, engage with the world."

In addition, the caucus consensus also mentioned that all caucuses agreed to hold a recorded vote on the presidential impeachment motion at 10:00 AM on May 19, with a voting period of one hour. After the impeachment motion is handled, individual interpellations will continue in the afternoon of the same day. (Edited by Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150424