TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The opposition KMT and TPP blocked a special NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.77 billion) defense budget for the fifth time Tuesday, the day China conducted its closest-ever live-fire drills.

Beijing announced Monday it would conduct the large-scale exercises in five areas around Taiwan, leading the Ministry of National Defense to set up an emergency center to monitor Chinese sea and air activities. The ministry reported 90 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait median line between 6 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

Despite the large-scale military maneuvers, the opposition at the Legislative Yuan prevented the special budget package from advancing to the next review stage scheduled for Friday, the Liberty Times reported. Since the start of December, the opposition members of the Procedure Committee have blocked progress on the budget five times.

DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) accused the opposition of not only halting the defense budget but of even preventing any discussion of the 2026-2033 spending plan. The opposition parties said the government failed to provide sufficient details about the budget and demand President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) face lawmakers to answer questions about the issue, per CNA.