TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) on Monday voiced support for a special defense budget of between NT$800 billion (US$25 billion) and NT$1 trillion, a position that appears to exceed the KMT legislative caucus proposal of NT$380 billion with possible future additions.
In an interview with Liberty Times, Lu said the Cabinet’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion package includes NT$351 billion in already approved US arms procurement, NT$447 billion in pending US procurement, and about NT$400 billion for commercial purchases and domestic programs. She said the NT$447 billion portion tied to US arms sales should be passed without issue, as it reflects joint Taiwan-US assessments of the nation’s defense needs.
Lu argued that amid rising global security concerns, lawmakers should approve the procurement funding to demonstrate Taiwan’s commitment to defense and help ensure timely delivery of weapons. She added that Taiwan does not need to wait for US “letters of offer and acceptance” before approving related spending.
For the remaining NT$400 billion, Lu said funding for military use should be included in the special budget, while support for domestic industries should be handled through annual budgets.
Lu later said differences between the Cabinet, her proposal, and the KMT plan are relatively small, adding that the KMT framework allows flexibility if the government improves communication with lawmakers, per Newtalk. She also called for Taiwan to maintain balanced relations with its neighbors, cautioning against taking overly anti-US or anti-China positions.
KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) responded by saying the party is open to higher defense spending if the government provides sufficient information, per UDN. She said the opposition’s demand to review US procurement documents stems from a lack of transparency and described the KMT proposal as adjustable depending on future US offers.
KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) called Lu an important party figure, per CNA. He said the KMT supports national defense while allowing internal debate.
TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said lawmakers should focus on what defense spending delivers rather than headline figures, per Z.Media. He noted that former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) allocated NT$400 billion in special defense budgets over eight years, compared with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) seeking NT$1.25 trillion in his second year.
Huang said the TPP proposal covers items announced by the US State Department in 2025 and described them as reasonable. He added that US lawmakers should press their government to disclose new arms packages so Taiwan’s Legislature has sufficient information for review.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) thanked Lu for her support and reiterated the need to pass the Cabinet’s proposal in full, per Newtalk.
Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said Lu’s remarks suggest divisions within the KMT, per Mirror Media. He also linked the issue to a reported April 7 meeting between Cheng and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, describing it as an effort by Beijing to ease the combined pressure from Lu and US over defense spending.
