TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of the Interior said Tuesday it will seek to ban the China Unification Promotion Party once the Constitutional Court is fully staffed.

The decision follows a Washington Post investigation, which revealed CUPP members received millions of dollars from the Chinese Communist Party to spread pro-Beijing propaganda. 

On Jan. 2, the ministry asked the Constitutional Court to declare the party unconstitutional. However, amendments to the Constitutional Litigation Act later that month stalled the process. 

The delay comes from the court’s incomplete formation. Just eight of 15 justices are in place after President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) nominees were blocked twice by lawmakers late last year and again in July.

The ministry said CUPP has engaged in systemic efforts to expand Chinese influence in Taiwan. It accused members of repeatedly violating the National Security Act, the Anti-Infiltration Act, and the Organized Crime Prevention Act. 

“While Taiwan’s Constitution protects the freedom of association,” the ministry added, the party “must abide by democratic principles and cannot take direction or funding from external forces.”

The ministry said the court does not yet have enough justices to hear the case. As such it will wait until the bench is filled before moving forward.