Taiwan is set to conduct recall elections next month targeting nearly a quarter of its legislative members, all belonging to the main opposition bloc. This development could potentially return control of parliament to the ruling party, according to the announcement by the electoral body on Friday.

Although Lai Ching-te secured the presidency last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its grip on the legislative majority. The Kuomintang (KMT), together with the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), now command the most seats.

Recently, both the KMT and TPP pushed through policies such as deep budget reductions, drawing sharp criticism from the DPP. However, the movement to collect enough signatures to trigger these recall votes was primarily driven by civil organizations.

Currently, the opposition occupies 62 out of the 113 parliamentary seats, leaving the DPP with 51. The recall ballots for 24 KMT legislators have been scheduled for July 26.

The DPP openly backs the recalls and this week released a campaign video urging citizens to vote in favor and “oppose the communists”—an open swipe at China, along with accusations that the opposition has grown dangerously close to Beijing.

The KMT, meanwhile, has rejected the recall efforts, labeling them as a “malicious recall” happening barely months after the most recent general election in January 2024.

“The KMT calls on the people of Taiwan to oppose the green communists and fight against dictatorship, and vote ‘no’,” the party said in a statement after the recall vote was announced, referring to the DPP’s party colours.

The KMT argues that maintaining dialogue with China—which claims Taiwan as part of its territory—is vital to preserving stability and reducing cross-strait tensions.

China has spurned every invitation to talk from Lai, labeling him a “separatist” while simultaneously escalating military activities directed at Taiwan.

Efforts to initiate similar recall motions against DPP lawmakers did not reach the required number of valid signatures.

For any recall to succeed, the count of ‘yes’ votes must surpass ‘no’ votes and must also exceed 25% of registered voters within that district, making voter turnout a decisive factor.

Should the recalls succeed, by-elections will follow later in the year to fill the vacated legislative seats.

Taiwan’s next general and presidential polls are not expected until early 2028.

Authorities in central and southern China remain on high alert for potential flash floods as the monsoon season intensifies, bringing with it relentless rainstorms that threaten to disrupt normal life and economic activity.

Emergency red warnings — the first issued this year — were activated late Thursday across several regions including Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, according to reports from national agencies overseeing water and weather conditions.

Scientists have linked the worsening downpours and floods to climate change, raising concerns for Chinese leaders who face the difficult task of managing outdated flood control systems. The ongoing threat not only displaces large populations but also risks significant damage to the nation’s $2.8 trillion farming industry.

This year’s rainy season arrived sooner than expected, beginning in early June. It is typically followed by blistering heat waves that dry out already soaked fields, drain reservoirs, and cause lasting harm to roadways and essential infrastructure.

In July last year alone, economic losses from weather-related disasters surpassed $10 billion. Even greater damage occurred in 2020, when unusually long rainfall battered the country for more than 60 consecutive days — nearly a month longer than normal.

In southern Hunan on Thursday, torrential rain swelled the Lishui River, pushing water levels over two meters above safe limits. This resulted in the most severe flooding seen in both the upper and lower river regions since 1998.

Footage shared online displayed floodwaters overflowing onto highways, sweeping debris through streets as the swollen river burst its banks.

Further southwest, in the mountainous city of Chongqing, homes were submerged under murky floodwaters. Cars were carried away by strong currents racing through the city, with water levels reportedly nearing the tops of electrical poles.

Rescue teams helped relocate nearly 300 residents from villages and towns in a mountainous area of Chongqing, where daily rainfall reached a staggering 304 millimetres (12 inches). At least one river in the region swelled by 19 metres after runoff from the surrounding hills converged into its stream.

In Guangdong’s Zhaoqing city on Wednesday, floodwaters surged over five metres past warning thresholds, cutting off electricity supplies and surpassing previous records for high water levels.