Lai Ching-te’s first day as Taiwan president marked by protests

Lai Ching-te's first day as president of Taiwan has been marked by large protests against the opposition over a controversial bill in parliament, foreshadowing a difficult first term for the leader, who lacks a legislative majority.

Thousands of Taiwanese citizens gathered outside the legislative yuan to protest against attempts by the opposition parties to push through a bill without review, which would give parliamentarians extraordinary powers to question anyone, including the president, under threat of fines and jail time. On Friday one MP was hospitalised after the parties came to blows over the debate.

Critics of the opposition's actions warned that the chaos and disunity being fomented plays into the hands of China, which has vowed to annex Taiwan and considers its government to be separatists.

Protests began in the morning and by late afternoon had swelled to several thousand as people finished work and school, undeterred by a thunderstorm and torrential rain.

Speakers included activists and politicians and Nymphia Wind, the Taiwanese drag queen who recently won Ru Paul's Drag Race. Wind, who is US-based and drew formal congratulations from the former president Tsai Ing-wen, said Taiwan's small population meant politics was "all around" and affected everyone daily.

"We need to defend what we care about today, and everyone should stand up for it," she said.

A nearby Presbyterian church, known for its support of the activist community, had thrown open its doors for food and shelter, projecting livestreams behind the pulpit of the sitting - where opposition MPs held control and wore body armour. The stream paused only for the 7pm service which saw the mostly young crowd pray and sing hymns in Taiwanese. Many filmed the surreal scene on their phones.