TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – TPP legislators said Wednesday they favored allowing a review of the government’s special NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) defense budget following months of stalemate.
Since early December, the opposition KMT and TPP have repeatedly blocked the package from proceeding to a review by the Legislative Yuan. The TPP’s apparent change of mind followed a news conference by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) Wednesday morning calling for action on the budget.
The new leader of the TPP legislative caucus, Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍), said lawmakers should review the government budget together with the party’s own version, the Liberty Times reported. The TPP proposal, submitted last month, set the maximum limit for arms spending at NT$400 billion, and required funding to be allotted on a yearly basis.
Chen said his party agreed with Lai’s call for the special defense budget to be listed as a priority item for the next legislative session starting Feb. 24, after the Lunar New Year break. The TPP said it was taking a flexible approach to its defense proposal, with adjustments possible to the amounts mentioned in the draft.
