Opposition parties today used their majority in the Legislative Yuan to block the Executive Yuan’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.55 billion) special defense budget for the eighth time.
The Executive Yuan on Nov. 27 last year approved the budget to bolster Taiwan’s defense and asymmetric warfare capabilities, and subsequently submitted it to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) first blocked the bill at the Procedure Committee on Dec. 2 last year and have since done so repeatedly, demanding that military pay raises be incorporated into the central government’s general budget.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
After the ruling and opposition caucuses this morning failed to reach a consensus on the Legislative Yuan’s agenda, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) called for a vote.
The KMT and TPP caucuses rejected the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s proposals and approved the TPP’s, again blocking the eight-year special defense budget.
With Taiwan facing increasing threats from China, it must strongly support its military, President William Lai (賴清德) said.
Supporting national defense and approving the special defense budget is the best way to back the military and safeguard the nation, Lai said, urging opposition parties to allow the budget to be reviewed and approved.
TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said that he had invited Lai to a debate.
The TPP caucus’s eight votes would back the Executive Yuan’s special defense budget if the majority found the president’s arguments sound, but Lai has not yet responded, he said.
Huang skirted rumors that the TPP would propose its own military procurement budget next week, saying that the party would proceed at its own pace and follow procedures.
The KMT caucus hopes Lai will report to the Legislative Yuan, KMT caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.
The KMT caucus does not oppose the NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget, but Lai has a responsibility to report to the Legislative Yuan and answer questions, as it is an unprecedentedly high defense budget, Lo said, adding that it is “the most basic requirement of procedural justice.”
In December, the KMT and TPP caucuses each submitted proposals requesting that Lai report to the legislature on the special defense budget and US arms procurement plans.
During caucus negotiations on Thursday last week, DPP caucus secretary-general Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) cited a Constitutional Court ruling, emphasizing that the president has no obligation to report to the Legislative Yuan.
The KMT and TPP today submitted a revised motion requesting that Lai report to the legislature before they review the special defense budget, citing a promise he made during his presidential campaign on Dec. 30, 2023, that he has a duty to provide a national intelligence report to the legislature at its request.
The two parties used their majority to pass the motion with 55 votes in favor and 51 votes against.
Additional reporting by Lin Hsin-han
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