Opposition Blocks NT$1.25 Trillion Defense Budget for Fifth Time

Opposition legislators in Taiwan have successfully blocked the consideration of a special defense budget bill amounting to NT$1.25 trillion (approximately US$39.8 billion) for the fifth consecutive time. This decision prevents the bill and associated fiscal amendments from being included in the agenda for the upcoming plenary sessions of the Legislative Yuan.

The special defense budget, announced by President William Lai last month, aims to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities through funding for weapons procurement and collaborative development programs with the United States from 2024 to 2033. Despite the urgency of this matter, the bill was once again halted from proceeding to the committee review stage.

The Legislative Yuan’s Procedure Committee, which is responsible for establishing the agenda for legislative discussions, passed a proposed draft agenda put forward by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Chien-chi with a narrow 10-8 vote. The next plenary sessions are scheduled to take place on Friday and Tuesday of the following week.

Puma Shen, a lawmaker from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), criticized the opposition’s actions, emphasizing that the Procedure Committee should not be utilized as a means to obstruct legislative processes. He noted, “Any strict oversight regarding the bill should be handled by the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.”

The Executive Yuan approved the special budget on November 27 to bolster Taiwan’s defense resilience in light of increasing military tensions in the region. This follows recent military drills conducted by China, which many observers see as a direct reaction to the announcement of a US$11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan on December 17.

The KMT has expressed concerns regarding the limited information available about the budget proposal, stating that it cannot support the NT$1.25 trillion allocation based on only two to six pages of documentation. KMT caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang criticized President Lai for not addressing the legislature to discuss the budget, claiming that the president is the one obstructing progress on national defense funding.

In a related legislative development, KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling has proposed an amendment to Article 2 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution. This amendment aims to establish provisions for the recall of presidents or vice presidents. If passed, the proposal would allow a recall motion to be initiated with the support of more than 1.5 percent of eligible voters, requiring signatures from over 10 percent to be formalized.

The political landscape in Taiwan remains tense as opposition parties grapple with the implications of defense funding and constitutional amendments, highlighting the complexities of governance amidst rising regional tensions.