TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said Monday the opposition has set three conditions before it will begin reviewing the 2026 central government budget, calling on the executive branch to enforce laws already passed by the legislature.

Lo said the conditions include enforcing amendments to the Pay Act of the Armed Forces and the Police Personnel Management Act, as well as halting further reductions to pensions for civil servants and teachers. He argued the ongoing budget impasse is the responsibility of the executive branch, per Tai Sounds.

Lo accused the Cabinet of refusing to implement legislation passed by the Legislative Yuan and said the “illegally operating” Constitutional Court had undermined legislative authority. He said improving pay and benefits for service members to address recruitment challenges should be treated as a priority and equal to weapons procurement.

The Constitutional Court has faced a prolonged deadlock after opposition-backed amendments raised the quorum required for constitutional reviews. The court recently ruled those amendments unconstitutional, applying previous procedural rules.

DPP Legislative Caucus Director Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) rejected Lo’s claims, saying national defense depends on troop training and the quality of military equipment, per ETtoday. He argued that only mercenaries fight purely for pay.

Chung added that Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) is popular among service members for his attention to their welfare. He said the key issue facing Taiwan is whether it has the necessary equipment to respond to potential threats, not service members’ benefits.

Chung urged the opposition to stop blocking the government’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget and other defense-related initiatives.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) also weighed in on the budget deadlock Thursday, saying the opposition should not invoke constitutional principles while failing to pass budgets that support national security, per UDN.

DPP Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) accused the opposition of delaying major infrastructure projects in Kaohsiung and called on lawmakers to begin reviewing the 2026 budget, per CNA. He singled out KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), a potential rival in the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral race, and demanded she clarify her position.

Ko responded by echoing Lo’s stance, saying the legislature is prepared to begin budget reviews if the executive branch enforces laws already passed.