KMT legislator seeks changes to Taiwan's Martial Law Act

國民黨立委尋求修改台灣戒嚴法

DPP calls political hype as KMT lawmaker suggests ruling party will impose martial law


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said she would propose law changes on Monday because she fears the DPP will impose martial law, a suggestion dismissed by the ruling party as political hype.

Hsu said she would propose amendments requiring martial law declarations to be submitted to the legislature for approval within 24 hours. She said this would reduce the likelihood of problems arising between a declaration and lawmakers’ review, per CNA.

Hsu said the proposals would target the law governing the legislature’s powers and the Martial Law Act. The act requires the president to submit a martial law declaration to the legislature for approval within one month.

Hsu referenced a now-deleted DPP social media post after martial law was declared in Korea last week that some interpreted as supporting the move. She said the Dec. 3 post worried her and made her believe the DPP wanted to impose martial law.

The DPP quickly replaced the post with another that said the original was not made to support martial law. Its members, including President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), have since said they oppose the practice.

DPP Secretary-General Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) responded to the proposal by saying Hsu was using the issue of martial law to create political hype. He said Taiwan would not return to martial law.

Tsai noted that after the Martial Law Act was last amended in 1949, the KMT imposed martial law for a world record-breaking 38 years. He said the human rights violations during this period served as a warning to the Taiwanese people and that no one wants martial law.

DPP Caucus Leader Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) also said the KMT was using the topic of martial law for political gain. She said the DPP has always opposed martial law and authoritarianism and questioned why the KMT wanted to amend the law now.