TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Sports Minister Lee Yang (李洋) on Tuesday declined Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei’s (王惠美) request for funding to build additional sports centers, citing the stalled 2026 central government budget.
The exchange took place during the opening ceremony of the Hemei National Sports Center, a joint project between the central and Changhua County governments, per Tai Sounds. While touring the facility, Wang handed Lee a stack of documents outlining proposals for additional sports center construction in the county.
Lee declined to accept the documents, saying the 2026 budget has yet to be approved by the opposition-controlled legislature. Wang appeared momentarily surprised before putting the documents away.
The ruling DPP framed the incident as a consequence of the opposition’s delay in reviewing the budget. DPP Legislative Caucus Convener Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) emphasized the importance of legislative oversight but warned against prolonged obstruction, per Mirror Media. He noted that local governments would also be affected by the impasse.
DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) urged Wang to press her KMT colleagues to pass the budget, saying the ministry cannot fund new projects without approved spending, per SETN. DPP lawmaker Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) supported Wang’s development goals while urging her to better communicate her plans so others can provide support, per ETtoday.
Local observers were more critical of Lee’s handling of the situation, noting that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) had previously engaged with Wang on similar proposals. They said Lee’s refusal to accept the documents, along with the silence of lawmakers present, could leave a negative impression among Changhua residents.
