Chinese: Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature on Tuesday approved cuts to this year’s resources that President Lai Ching-te’s group says may hamper its ability to govern and hurt the island’s protection.
Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) lost its majority in parliament in the 2024 elections that swept him to power and has struggled to advance its agenda.
The main opposition Kuomintang ( KMT ) holds the most seats and, with the help of the Taiwan People’s Party ( TPP ), has pushed through bills that have angered the DPP and led to chaotic scenes inside parliament.
The opposition alliance on Tuesday voted in favour of cutting federal spending, stripping around NT$ 207. 5 billion from the administration’s proposed NT$ 3. 1 trillion resources, TPP acting president Huang Kuo-chang said on Twitter.
” This is returning money to the people,” KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi told reporters after the vote.
DPP conference main professional Rosalia Wu said the “historically high” finances cut had left” no field unscathed”.
The government’s plan to increase defence spending to a record NT$ 647 billion in 2025 appears to have been scuttled, but the final figure was not immediately available.
The opposition had proposed among other things to thaw 50 per cent of paying on a submarine initiative and drone market garden, cut international travel and education by 15 per cent and reduce operational costs.
Ahead of the final vote on Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai said opposition parties had engaged in “ridiculous attitude” and undermined trust in the island’s dedication to improve its defences.
” The ice of the underwater budget will let the world see that Taiwan’s legislature has certainly compromised Taiwan’s resolve of its regional military skills,” Cho said.
” Our international trust, our international obligations, and our global perseverance will all be undermined. “
That followed his notes on Monday that finances cuts for government organizations may cause “irreparable issues and costs. “
The KMT has defended the decreases, saying the group was seeking to prevent wasteful spending.
Politicians cast their votes days after the swearing-in of US President Donald Trump, who has pressured British allies and partners to invest more on their own army.
Taiwan life under the constant risk of an invasion by China, which claims the island as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.
Trump has recently suggested Taiwan may give the United States for its security and accused the isle of stealing the US semiconductor business.
While Taiwan has a domestic military business and has been upgrading its products, it relies heavily on US hands sales to boost its protection capabilities.
” The US has much considered Taiwan’s defence budget inadequate,” Chieh Chung, a military analyst at Tamkang University, told AFP.
” The US might question whether its support for Taiwan is justified when domestic political problems reduce the effectiveness of for help. “
