TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) said Thursday the KMT has requested a delay in reviewing the special defense bill.

Chen said a legislative committee had planned to review the bill on April 9, but the KMT asked to postpone the meeting to April 15 or 16, CNA reported. He said the draft is highly time-sensitive and should not be delayed.

Chen urged the KMT to keep the original schedule and avoid slowing progress due to KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit to China. He said legislative work should proceed independently of political travel.

Lawmakers reviewed competing draft versions proposed by the Cabinet, the TPP, and the KMT on March 26. After two days of discussions, they failed to reach a consensus on key issues, including procurement naming and total funding, and the bill was sent to party negotiations, per Yahoo News.

UDN reported that the DPP caucus had originally planned to begin negotiations this week but agreed to delay them to April 9 out of goodwill. Chen said it is difficult to understand why the KMT caucus has now requested another postponement, per Economic Daily News.

He said the DPP caucus will not change its schedule and will continue communicating with the KMT. Chen also called on younger KMT lawmakers to show greater independence and begin negotiations soon, noting that some party figures are moving closer to the Cabinet’s version, per Nownews.