Taiwan's election commission threw out two opposition-backed referendum proposals, setting off a partisan fight over who really controls the process.

• The commission rejected referendums on caning as a criminal punishment and on earmarking traffic fines for road safety.
• Caning was struck down because Taiwan has no such penalty in law, so the proposal counted as writing new law rather than deciding major policy.
• The traffic-fine question failed on a 4-3 vote after three rounds, decided by simple majority under the meeting rules.
• The KMT called the decision imperial overreach — "what the emperor won't give, you can't take" — and lodged a formal protest.
• The DPP fired back that commission members were confirmed by the opposition-controlled legislature, asking who exactly the "emperor" is supposed to be.

Outlook: A third proposal to scrap Taiwan's nuclear-free policy is still in play, and the opposition is likely to keep attacking the commission's independence ahead of any vote.