Taiwan Deputies Swap Punches Over Bayer Project

Deputies in Taiwans provincial assembly traded punches on Thursday over an investment project by Germanys Bayer AG.

The assembly ended by postponing the debate on the leasing of land to Bayer to build a plant in central Taichung until next month, a move which could put the project in jeopardy.

Bayer in December, frustrated by three years of opposition, suspended plans for the plant to make toluene di-isocyanate, or TDI a chemical used in the production if synthetic leather and switched to another site in Texas.

The German company later said the project could be revived, but only if Taiwan could approve land leases by the end of February and issue construction permits in March. Yesterday, the provincial assembly took up the land-lease debate again but the session soon deteriorated into violence.

 

While lawmakers traded blows in a chaotic session in the hall, hundreds of Bayer opponents outside engaged in a day long stand-off with riot police outside. No one was seriously hurt.

The assembly adjourned without progress and set further deliberation for March 6 a delay at odds with Bayers end-of-February deadline. Bayer executives could not be reached for comment.