TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislative caucus is pushing back against President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) proposal to reinstate the military trial system. During a Friday morning (March 14) meeting, the caucus announced its intention to launch a referendum challenging the president's initiative. The move sets up a potential clash between the opposition KMT and the ruling party on a critical national security issue.
The proposed referendum question asks whether Taiwan should follow Ukraine's lead by implementing martial law and reinstating military trials. The KMT caucus plans to formally introduce the referendum proposal to the Legislative Yuan's agenda on March 21, following a review by the Procedure Committee on March 18. The caucus’s strategy aims to put the issue directly to the public for a vote.
In addition to the referendum on military trials, the KMT caucus confirmed its commitment to pursuing a separate referendum against the abolition of the death penalty. This second referendum initiative signals the KMT’s broader focus on law and order issues and its willingness to challenge the government's policies through public votes. The dual referendum push reflects the party's strategy to mobilize public support for its positions.
President Lai announced the reinstatement of the military trial system during a high-level national security meeting on Thursday (March 13). He identified China as a "hostile foreign force" and emphasized the need for a comprehensive review and amendment of the Military Trial Act (軍事審判法). The president's move is seen as a response to escalating tensions with China and concerns about potential threats to Taiwan's security.
President Lai also outlined five major national security and united front threats facing Taiwan and proposed 17 strategic responses. These responses include implementing stricter checks on applications for Chinese documents, further underscoring the government's concern about Chinese influence. The "Referendum Act" (公民投票法) stipulates that the Legislative Yuan must submit the proposal to the relevant authority within 10 days of its passage if it deems a public vote necessary to initiate or reconsider significant policies.
