A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) deputy chair yesterday threatened at a meeting to have Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) expelled from the party over his reported support for a NT$800 billion (US$25.35 billion) special defense budget, prompting KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) to step in to try to smooth things over.
The supplementary defense budget was first proposed late last year by President William Lai (賴清德) and covers arms purchases from the US and the development of domestic defense systems, with the aim of deterring China.
The government is seeking NT$1.25 trillion in funds over an eight-year period. The KMT legislative caucus proposed a “NT$380 billion plus N” plan, with N referring to additional funds that could be allocated after receiving letters of acceptance for arms sales from the US. Han is scheduled to lead cross-party negotiations on the special budget on Wednesday next week.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
However, the KMT legislative caucus yesterday held a meeting to discuss whether to support the NT$380 billion plus N plan or a competing NT$800 billion proposal made by Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), which Han has reportedly told other KMT lawmakers he supports.
The meeting of KMT lawmakers ended without consensus.
At a gathering of the KMT’s Central Standing Committee later that day, Chi Lin-lien (季麟連), a 78-year-old retired marine corps general and one of the KMT’s four deputy chairs, asked to speak before the closed-door portion of the meeting began.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Chi reiterated his support for the NT$380 billion plus N plan put forward by KMT Legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi, calling it “completely reasonable.”
Turning to the subject of Han — who is not a member of the committee and was not present — Chi said he has regarded him as a “comrade-in-arms” for more than 40 years, a “brother” and “the glory” of the KMT.
For that reason, “I could never believe that brother Kuo-yu would betray his party for personal gain,” Chi said, apparently referring to reports of Han’s support for a larger special budget.
If that were true, the veteran-dominated Huang Fuhsing faction of the KMT, of which Chi and Han are members, would “stand up, even at the cost of family ties, and urge brother Kuo-yu be expelled from the party,” Chi said.
As he finished speaking, Fu, seated next to him, grabbed Chi’s arm, urging him to sit down.
Cheng then stood up and said that Chi, as a former military man, is “quite emotional” by nature.
“Although Chi Lin-lien’s words were a bit harsh, the party headquarters has had very positive communication with Han Kuo-yu, Hsu Chiao-hsin and all other legislators,” she said.
Cheng added that she never discussed changing her stance on the issue with any legislator, because the KMT’s proposal is “the most responsible approach” to complete US arms sales, protect Taiwan, safeguard people’s wallets and uphold fiscal discipline.
Asked in a reporters’ group chat about being singled out by Chi, Hsu replied that she would “never do anything to pain our friends and please our enemies,” and would “always abide by the legislative caucus’ resolutions.”
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