President William Lai (賴清德) this morning told the nation that “defense cannot wait,” as he urged the legislature to pass the government’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.74 billion) special defense budget.
The Executive Yuan on Nov. 27 approved the budget to strengthen Taiwan’s defense and asymmetric warfare capabilities, with funds to be allocated over eight years.
However, opposition lawmakers have refused to schedule a review of the proposal 10 times, instead submitting an alternative budget that only includes certain items to be reviewed on an annual basis.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
The main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has said it would not “sign blank checks” and has a right to scrutinize the bill.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, Lai said he hopes the legislature can “turn over a new leaf” and pass the defense budget as quickly as possible once the new session begins.
“National defense cannot wait. Our safety cannot wait. Support for our troops cannot wait,” he said.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
It is an international consensus that Taiwan’s peace and stability is essential to global security and prosperity, he said.
Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific neighbors have also increased defense spending in reaction to China’s mounting military aggression, he said.
Japan’s military budget has reached NT$1.8 trillion, South Korea’s stands at NT$1.4 trillion and the Philippines has also raised its spending, he said, adding that Taiwan cannot fall behind.
Lai thanked the US administration for its support, adding that the defense budget has received support from the White House and bipartisan members of Congress.
However, with the bill blocked, Taiwan may fall off the priority list, delivery may be delayed for critical weapons systems and the international community may begin to doubt Taiwan’s commitment to its own defense, he said.
“We have a responsibility to the international community. Increasing our defense spending is not a provocation, but proof of our commitment to self-defense and ensuring global security,” Lai said.
Amid increasingly complex regional dynamics, providing the troops with the most advanced and precise weaponry is essential to protecting Taiwanese lives and livelihoods, he said.
Lai recalled that when he was a legislator 21 years ago, the Executive Yuan approved a special defense bill allowing a major arms procurement from the US that was to include eight submarines.
However, the legislature’s Procedure Committee blocked the budget 69 times and the procurement failed, he said.
Had the bill been passed and those eight submarines joined Taiwan’s fleet, the nation could have contributed far more to regional peace and security, he said.
“We cannot make the same mistake again,” Lai added.
Opposition parties have criticized the government’s budget for failing to include a uniform salary increase for all volunteer soldiers from NT$15,000 to NT$30,000, which was approved by the legislature in June last year.
The Executive Yuan in December filed for a constitutional interpretation and a temporary injunction of the opposition-backed bill.
Addressing the opposition’s accusation that the government does not support the armed services, Lai said those beliefs are “completely unfounded.”
The Cabinet is seeking a constitutional interpretation, as a uniform raise lacks professional consideration, he said.
The armed forces are a large organization with various regions, units and missions entitled to different allowances by design, he said.
If the proposal is deemed constitutional, the funding would be replenished via a supplementary budget, he added.
Moreover, Lai said that his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cares for the armed services more than the KMT.
In the past decade, the DPP has raised military salaries four times — a 14 percent cumulative increase — while also upgrading weapons, renovating military housing and increasing 23 different allowances, he said.
Last year alone, five allowances were raised, increasing annual spending by NT$13.8 billion, he added.
Also addressing the news conference, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said that the delay in passing the budget risks a "rupture" in the joint line of defense against China.
The government had had intensive talks with the US on what weapons Taiwan needed, Koo said.
"In the Indo-Pacific region, especially among the countries along the first island chain, Taiwan plays a uniquely critical, almost fated, role," Koo said. "We do not want Taiwan to become the rupture in the Indo-Pacific collective deterrence posture."
Additional reporting by Reuters
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