Lawmakers are to review the three special defense budget proposals — from the Cabinet, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) — during the legislative committee sessions next week, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator and Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee co-convener Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) said yesterday.
Reviewing and approving the special defense budget bill is a top priority, so he has placed it on the meeting agenda for all three days the committee convenes next week, Chen said.
The Cabinet’s version allots NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.27 billion) over eight years for the “T-Dome” multilayered air defense system, purchase of US-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, TOW and Javelin missiles, new drone fleet production, advanced command and control systems, and other weapons procurement.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
The KMT’s proposal included a NT$380 billion budget, while the TPP’s is capped at NT$400 billion, but DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said those versions were about 70 percent lower than the Cabinet’s and would put Taiwan in “extreme danger” in face of China’s rising military threat.
Chen urged opposition legislators to work together in good faith in reviewing and approving the Cabinet’s version of the special defense budget bill, adding that it would be a “triple-win” — a positive outcome and allowing the KMT and the TPP, who are facing public anger and distrust for delaying and blocking military procurement, to gain points with the public.
The floor would be open for questions and answers on Monday, and clause-by-clause reviews of military procurement needs and regulations on Wednesday and Thursday, he said.
Chen said he hoped KMT and TPP legislators would not stall the process and approve the Cabinet’s version, adding that the opposition’s main points of contention were on weapons delivery schedules and the total quantities of procurement packages.
Ministry of National Defense officials would be present to answer questions, clarify uncertainties and fully cooperate in inquiries during the committee sessions, he said.
“This special military procurement bill is crucial to Taiwan’s national defense. Every day of delays in its passage would increase the risk to our country, and cause great concern and anxiety for our citizens,” Chen added.
Asked about the likelihood that the opposition would boycott the review of the Cabinet’s version of the bill, Chen said it should not be seen as a zero-sum game.
While some aspects of the bill are open for discussion and negotiation, opposition parties should not deviate too far, he said.
For example, if the delivery schedule is strictly locked up to end of 2028, it would not align with production timelines and would jeopardize weapons procurement with US, he added.
The opposition must understand that some requests and expectations regarding production and delivery timelines are impossible to attain, Chen said, warning that not approving the defense budget bill would greatly harm national defense, and cause the US and other allied countries to lose confidence in Taiwan’s resolve and ability to defend itself against enemy forces.
Surveys have shown that the majority of Taiwanese want national defense capabilities to be enhanced to prevent Chinese aggression and interference, and are willing to put up with the related costs, Chen said.
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