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[PHOTOS] Taiwanese Lawmakers Punching Each Other Inside Parliament

Punches and water were thrown, and the doors to the chamber were tied shut.

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Some eight people were pushing and shoving in one scrum, while two scuffled on the floor

Some eight people were pushing and shoving in one scrum, while two scuffled on the floor

Image via dailymail.co.uk

The Taiwan Solidarity Union member was grabbed by the ruling Kuomintang legislators

Ruling and opposition lawmakers fight on the legislature floor in Taiwan. They exchanged punches and threw water at each other ahead of an expected vote. (AP Photo)

Image via hindustantimes.com

They exchanged punches and threw water at each other ahead of an expected vote

Ruling and opposition lawmakers fight on the legislature floor in Taiwan. They exchanged punches and threw water at each other ahead of an expected vote. (AP Photo)

Image via hindustantimes.com

Legislators from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party splash water at legislators from the ruling Nationalist Party at the Legislative Yuan

Legislators from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) splash water at legislators from the ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) at the Legislative Yuan

Image via dailymail.co.uk

Ruling Kuomintang legislator Lee Cheng-min scuffles with Hsu Chung-hsin from the Taiwan Solidarity Union

Ruling Kuomintang legislator Lee Cheng-min scuffles with Hsu Chung-hsin from the Taiwan Solidarity Union before a vote over rebuilding the fourth nuclear power plant at Parliament in Taipei. AFP photo

Image via hindustantimes.com

Opposition lawmakers block a door of the legislature floor

Opposition lawmakers block a door of the legislature floor in Taipei, Taiwan as they exchanged punches ahead of an expected vote. (AP Photo)

Image via hindustantimes.com

A legislator from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party yawns next to an entrance

A legislator from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party yawns next to an entrance at the parliament in Taipei. AFP photo

Image via hindustantimes.com

An opposition lawmaker hurls a bottle of water during fight against ruling lawmakers

An opposition lawmaker hurls a bottle of water during fight against ruling lawmakers on the legislature floor in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo)

Image via hindustantimes.com

Ruling and opposition lawmakers fight on the legislature floor

Ruling and opposition lawmakers fight on the legislature floor in Taipei, Taiwan as they exchanged punches each other ahead of an expected vote. (AP Photo)

Image via hindustantimes.com

Now, watch the whole thing in video

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Here's how and why the Taiwanese lawmakers broke out into full-on brawl

Lawmakers exchanged punches and threw water at each other ahead of a vote that would authorise a referendum on whether to finish a fourth power plant on the island.

dailymail.co.uk

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

vancouversun.com

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.

bbc.co.uk

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.

dailymail.co.uk

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