TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party blocked a special NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) defense budget for the sixth time Friday.

The Cabinet approved the package on Nov. 27, but since Dec. 2, the opposition parties have used their numerical advantage at the Legislative Yuan’s Procedure Committee to prevent the budget from advancing to the next stage. They have also been demanding the addition of a wage increase for the military to the central government budget, per CNA.

Negotiations between the opposition and leading legislators of the Democratic Progressive Party took place before Friday’s vote, but failed to achieve an agreement. The central government budget for 2026 met the same fate, with 59 lawmakers voting against and 50 in favor.

The package is designed to procure weapons systems from the US over an eight-year period and to enhance Taiwan’s asymmetric defense capabilities. The KMT and the TPP, however, have maintained their opposition against the budget even after China staged massive live-fire exercises close to Taiwan just before the New Year.