TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The opposition majority at the Legislative Yuan on Wednesday defeated the Cabinet’s attempt to overturn cuts in the central government budget for 2025.

The package voted for by the KMT and TPP included the deepest budget cuts in Taiwan’s history, totaling NT$207.5 billion (US$6.29 billion). Concern about the cuts affecting the country’s foreign and defense position was echoed in Washington.

The government sent the budget for a new vote, but the opposition defeated the attempt by 61 votes to 51 in the 113-seat Legislature Wednesday afternoon, the Liberty Times reported. A second vote about amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures ended with the same result, despite the government’s argument that the changes approved by the opposition would widen the gap between Taiwan’s regions.

Before Wednesday’s vote, the government said it might consider sending the budget issue to the Constitutional Court for a ruling. The government’s defeat echoed the outcome of five similar revotes, including most recent votes on amendments to Constitutional Court and recall regulations in January and February, respectively.