A government-backed plan allowing Taiwanese universities to accept Chinese students could be delayed after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus appealed against its first reading passed on Monday.
The amendment to admit students from China passed a committee review on Monday amid scuffles between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and DPP lawmakers at a joint meeting of the Internal Administration Committee and the Education and Culture Committee.
To stall the review process, the DPP caucus on Monday night launched a formal appeal against the passage of the first reading.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
In accordance with legislative procedure, the committees must now jointly decide whether to accept the DPP caucus’ motion.
Members of the Internal Administration Committee said the appeal could mean that it would be unable to deliver a report to the procedural committee, which sets the legislative schedule, in time to be included on Friday’s agenda.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said he doubted whether the bill would make it to the plenary session this week, adding that the proposal continued to be plagued by “numerous uncertainties” even though the KMT caucus planned to discuss it during Friday’s plenary meeting.
Despite the clashes on Monday, Wang said both parties had kept their word and negotiated the bill rationally.
A brawl broke out at the Education and Culture Committee two weeks ago as it attempted to read through the minutes of the previous week’s session to confirm that a preliminary review of amendments to the University Act (大學法) and the Vocational School Act (專科學校法) had been completed.
These allowed Taiwanese schools to recruit Chinese students and to recognize Chinese credentials.
The meeting ended with committee head KMT Legislator Chao Li-yun (趙麗雲) being rushed to the emergency room while a number of DPP legislators were also taken to hospital for medical treatment.
KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) yesterday said he would not rule out proposing that the bill be put directly to a second reading during Friday’s plenary session, but Lin said the caucus would first negotiate the matter with Wang.
Meanwhile, both the KMT and the DPP caucuses agreed that the two bills would be reviewed by committee again today.
Speaking to media yesterday, DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) defended her caucus’ actions and said KMT lawmakers should not have set a timeframe to pass the controversial law.
“What is all this hurry about? Is the haste really because of the government’s policies or is it because of the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), or to make it cooperate with China’s policies?” Chen asked.
She said KMT lawmakers should give the opposition party a chance to air its concerns.
“Is there something the KMT is afraid of? There is widespread public concern over this policy, which they should first make an effort to understand,” Chen said.
Raising concerns that Taiwanese jobs would be negatively affected by opening Taiwan to Chinese students — as the measure was tied to the recognition of Chinese educational certification — the DPP proposed a clause forbidding the use of Chinese certification in obtaining professional licenses or taking part in public service and teacher examinations.
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