Punches fly and water thrown as mass brawl breaks out in Taiwanese parliament in debate on nuclear power

Taiwanese lawmakers exchanged punches and threw water at each other today ahead of an expected vote that would authorise a referendum on whether to finish a fourth nuclear power plant on the densely populated island of 23 million people.

Nuclear power has long been a contentious issue in Taiwan and became more so following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011.



While many Taiwanese consider nuclear power generation an unacceptable safety risk for the earthquake-prone island, economic analyses suggest disruptive power shortages are inevitable if the fourth plant is not completed.



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Tensions flare: Ruling and opposition lawmakers toss drinks during a fight on the legislature floor in Taipei, Taiwan, during a debate on nuclear power Fracas: Some DPP lawmakers object to the idea of any nuclear referendum at all, while others say that the language in the bill needs to be changed because it is prejudicial Punches fly: Nuclear power has long been a contentious issue in Taiwan and became more so following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011

Friday's fracas pitted the pro-referendum forces of President Ma Ying-jeou's ruling Nationalist Party against strongly anti-nuclear forces affiliated with the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

DPP lawmakers occupied the legislative podium late Thursday night amid vows to disrupt the vote.

It had not taken place by midday Friday, but with a large Nationalist majority in the 113-seat legislature, the referendum bill is expected to pass easily.

Construction of Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant began in 1997 but was halted while the DPP was in power between 2000 and 2008. If the referendum is passed it could become operational by 2016.

Fisticuffs: Hsu Chung-hsin (centre) from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) is grabbed by the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) legislators before a vote over rebuilding the fourth nuclear power plant Angry scenes: Some eight people were pushing and shoving in one scrum, while two scuffled on the floor Physical confrontations broke out early in Friday's session. Associated Press television footage shows some eight people pushing and shoving in one scrum. Two people scuffled on the floor, while others tried to separate them.

More than a dozen activists in bright yellow shirts chanted and waved signs on a nearby balcony, and several of them splashed water onto lawmakers below. A few water bottles were thrown into the fray. Some DPP lawmakers object to the idea of any nuclear referendum at all, while others say that the language in the bill needs to be changed because it is prejudicial. Childish: Legislators from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) splash water at legislators from the ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) at the Legislative Yuan Wet argument: Legislator Hsueh Ling (top) from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) splashes water at rival politician Chiang Huei-chen

According to the bill under discussion, referendum voters would be asked to vote on whether they agree with the proposition that 'the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant should be halted and that it not become operational.'

Taiwan began transitioning away from a one-party martial law regime in 1987 and is regarded today as one of Asia's most vibrant democracies.

But its political process has been undermined by occasional outbursts of violence in the legislature, much of which appears to be deliberately designed to score points among hardline supporters on either side of the island's longstanding political divide.