TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) on Wednesday pushed back against Premier Cho Jung-tai’s (卓榮泰) criticism of the party’s proposed NT$10,000 (US$341) tax rebate, arguing the measure has precedent and is financially feasible.

While visiting a warehouse operated by the Agriculture and Food Agency in Kaohsiung’s Renwu District on Tuesday, Cho said Taiwan’s resources should be concentrated on pressing national issues rather than dispersed through tax rebates, per Liberty Times. He suggested that purchases such as model airplanes or refrigerators, which could be made using rebate funds, would offer limited benefit to the nation.

Chu responded by citing a previous tax rebate initiative implemented under former President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration, per ETtoday. He said budget surpluses from the past two fiscal years would be sufficient to fund the proposal.

Chu also addressed comments from DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), who argued that increasing government expenditures through legislation is unconstitutional. Chu countered that while the legislature cannot amend the general budget to increase spending, the current proposal is a legislative act and not subject to the same restrictions.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) criticized the rebate plan, calling it a form of voter bribery, per UDN. He claimed the legislature, under both KMT and DPP leadership, had overstepped its authority.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) also urged lawmakers to reconsider the proposal, saying the timing was inappropriate due to the absence of an impact assessment on potential new tariffs with the US, per CNA. He proposed that the legislature delay action until such an assessment is completed.

In addition to criticizing the KMT’s plan, Cho said legislators who are not capable of properly reviewing government spending should not continue participating in the budget process.