Taiwan MP in 'tear gas' protest (sprays gas in parliament to protest arms deal with US)

BBC News ^ | 10/24/06 | Caroline Gluck

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A Taiwanese legislator could face disciplinary action after spraying what appeared to be tear gas during a parliamentary committee hearing.

Independent legislator Lee Ao, who was trying stop debate on a controversial arms bill, also pulled out a stun gun.

Mr Lee caused a commotion after putting on a mask and spraying gas from an aerosol canister into the packed room.

Tear-orist ... portraying a character from the popular film "V for Vendetta," Taipei
independent mayoral candidate Li Ao releases the contents of a can of tear gas inside
Taiwan's Legislature in Taipei, yesterday. Li said that he was acting to block
consideration of a multibillion-dollar weapons purchase from the United States.
Photo: AP

Although his actions worked to block the discussions, he could be suspended for violating safety regulations.

"I'm an old man and I can risk my life," said Mr Lee, 71, who is also a candidate in the mayoral elections in Taipei in December.

He then brandished a stun gun, setting off a warning alarm.

'Political maverick'

Some legislators were clearly shocked; others laughed, while more started coughing and began running towards windows and the exit doors.

After all the commotion, the committee then blocked discussion of the arms bill, which has been held up for the past two years.

The bill would allow billions of dollars of arms to be purchased from the United States.

The opposition parties have argued that the multi billion dollar arms purchase of submarines and anti-submarine aircraft from the United States is unnecessary and too costly.

Analysts have warned that Taiwan needs to boost its defence spending to prevent the military balance shifting further in China's favour.

While Lee Ao's antics appear to have succeeded, they have left some legislators furious.

He could now be referred to a parliamentary disciplinary committee, which has the power to suspend him if it rules that he has violated safety regulations.

Mr Lee is often described as a political maverick.

He is a respected writer and a popular television personality, well known for his acerbic comments and controversial views.

But his latest actions, which have now become headline news, are being seen by many as a step too far.

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The "V for Vendetta" mask is the new number-one "Liberal Idiot" identifier, replacing the Che t-shirt and offensive body odor (though both still linger.)

[marlon]

Perhaps he should head to China and try that stunt. Then he might understand why his country is buying arms from us.

[frogjerk]

He could now be referred to a parliamentary disciplinary committee, which has the power to suspend him if it rules that he has violated safety regulations.

He should have been beaten with rods.

[Steel Wolf]

Perhaps he should head to China and try that stunt. Then he might understand why his country is buying arms from us.

If he did, he'd better hope that the Chinese guards killed him. If he survived being arrested, before long, he'd wish he hadn't.

[Zhang Fei]

This guy Lee Ao spent some time in jail under the Kuomintang. It appears that all of the guys the Kuomintang jailed were really Communists, after. What is interesting is that these Communist fifth columnists have now joined hands with the Kuomintang to ensure that Taiwan remains part of China.

[marlon]

Sounds like they have a lot in common with our democrat party.

[color_tear]

Taiwan is part of China, nobody denies it. You call Taiwan, I call her Republic Of China. Actually mainland is part of China too, do you know that? ROC ruled mainland from 1911 to 1949.

Taiwan is not part of PRC and wil never be.

Lee Ao is a communist, no doubt about it. He is not part of
Kuomintang and he is not part of PRC, just a screwed-up, no good scoundrel, should stay in jail.

[aynrandfreak]

Natalie Portman should be stripped of her Judaism for that movie.

[Rakkasan1]

a Taiwanese Mr Cindy Sheehan?

[Zhang Fei]

Perhaps he should head to China and try that stunt. Then he might understand why his country is buying arms from us.

He's not going to do that. He's a Chinese Communist who spent some time in jail under the Kuomintang. His whole schtick - as a legislator - is to try to keep Taiwan militarily weak enough to ensure the success of a Chinese invasion.

[Zhang Fei]

a Taiwanese Mr Cindy Sheehan?

More like a Taiwanese Major Andre - a Chinese Communist trying to sow discord on Taiwan.

[lyonel]

As I understand, his stand on the arms deal is that US should provide them free of charge. His logic is that Taiwan as a watch dog to prevent the erosion of US influence in the Pacific should be rewarded accordingly.
His famous line is "Guard dogs never have to bring its own food." Very funny.

[Zhang Fei]

His logic is that Taiwan as a watch dog to prevent the erosion of US influence in the Pacific should be rewarded accordingly.

That's taking South Korea's logic and going one step further. But the thing with Chinese is that you have to distinguish between what they say for public consumption and what their true agenda is. My view is that Lee Ao doesn't really believe what he says - he's just trying to clear the way for the Chinese conquest of Taiwan. After all, the primary beneficiary of a strong Taiwanese defense capability is Taiwan itself.

For example, a significant beneficiary of the Chinese defense of North Korea during the Korean War was the Soviet Union. And yet the Soviets did not provide free weaponry to the Chinese - the Chinese spent decades paying back those loans. Because the primary beneficiary of Chinese success during the conflict would have been China itself.

Of course, the US has in the past provided free weaponry to the Kuomintang - during WWII and the Chinese Civil War. But that wasn't actually a grant - it was forgiven because the Kuomintang was clearly no longer in charge of a continental-sized nation able to repay the loan.