In Taiwan, recall campaigns targeting a total of 50 lawmakers are heating up against the backdrop of sharp partisan divisions in its legislature.



The opposition camp has a majority of seats in Taiwan's 113-member parliament, the Legislative Yuan, with the largest opposition Kuomintang holding 52 seats.



The minority government of the Democratic Progressive Party, led by President Lai Ching-te, is trailing with only 51 seats.



A civic group critical of the opposition held a massive rally in Taipei on Saturday. The group is aiming to unseat as many opposition lawmakers as possible so that the ruling DPP can secure a majority in the legislature.



During the rally, signatures were collected toward initiating referendums to decide whether to dismiss lawmakers.



Meanwhile, the opposition bloc is also staging a signature drive of its own to recall ruling party lawmakers.



The Central Election Commission says the number of lawmakers being targeted in these campaigns stands at 50, nearly a half of the legislators. Fifteen of them are from the DPP and 34 from the KMT, while one is a pro-KMT independent.



President Lai is calling on both camps to cooperate in dealing with China's espionage activities, and the tariff policies of the US administration of President Donald Trump. But there are no signs of the partisan confrontation being brought under control anytime soon.